Katherine vs Vanessa
Katherine and Vanessacompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1995, Katherine was ranked #79 and Vanessa #86 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Katherine was ranked #81 and Vanessa #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Katherine was ranked #195 and Vanessa #361 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2001, Katherine was ranked #334 and Vanessa #245 among girls in Norway.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Katherine was ranked #476 and Vanessa #351 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Katherine was ranked #608 and Vanessa #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Katherine was ranked #872 and Vanessa #719 among girls in England and Wales.
Katherine and Vanessa over time
Katherine and Vanessa appear together in 6 published lists, across 194 years of shared records. Katherine held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Vanessa in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Katherine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Vanessa in 2. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2007, Vanessa moved ahead of Katherine in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #197 and #220 the year before became #222 and #135.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Katherine and Vanessa changed places 6 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1963 and 2000, ending at #81 and #93.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 36 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Katherine and Vanessa averaged 14.6 places apart, ending at #81 and #93.
- Longest-running competitions
Katherine and Vanessa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #872 and #719.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Katherine #48 in 1996, Vanessa #202 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1965–2025
Katherine held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Vanessa in 28.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #71 in 1965, Vanessa #97 in 1993.
The order changed in 2007: Vanessa moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #197 and #220; by 2007 that had become #222 and #135.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katherine #608, Vanessa #413.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls36 shared years, 1963–2000
Katherine held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Vanessa in 14.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #24 in 1982, Vanessa #17 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Katherine #81, Vanessa #93.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Katherine held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Vanessa in 4.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #48 in 1996, Vanessa #202 in 1996.
The order changed in 2023: Vanessa moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #559 and #562; by 2023 that had become #592 and #545.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katherine #872, Vanessa #719.
New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1967–1995
Katherine held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Vanessa in 16.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #32 in 1984, Vanessa #15 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Katherine #79, Vanessa #86.
Norway · Girls23 shared years, 1974–2001
Katherine held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Vanessa in 18.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #323 in 1983, Vanessa #215 in 1992.
The order changed in 1987: Vanessa moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #444 and #493; by 1987 that had become #334 and #315.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Katherine #334, Vanessa #245.
Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 1997–2018
Katherine held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Vanessa in 2.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #57 in 1997, Vanessa #163 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Katherine #195, Vanessa #361.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Katherine | Vanessa |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 4 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) | Norway · Girls #187 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Katherine has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Vanessa.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Katherine
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #100 among girls in New Zealand in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1956–2000
Highest recorded position: #24 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1982 (recorded 1956–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #872 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Vanessa
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1967–1995
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1973 (recorded 1967–1995).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #719 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls