Kathleen vs Marie
Kathleen and Mariecompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1965, Kathleen was ranked #46 and Marie #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1977, Kathleen was ranked #89 and Marie #87 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Kathleen was ranked #197 and Marie #556 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Kathleen was ranked #407 and Marie #337 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Kathleen was ranked #997 and Marie #778 among girls in England and Wales.
Kathleen and Marie over time
Kathleen and Marie appear together in 5 published lists, across 130 years of shared records. Kathleen held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Marie in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Kathleen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Marie in none. 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kathleen and Marie changed places 13 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #997 and #778.
- Longest-running competitions
Kathleen and Marie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #997 and #778.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kathleen #227 in 1996, Marie #288 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #23 and #26 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #197 and #556.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2024
Kathleen held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Marie in 28.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #18 in 1965, Marie #19 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kathleen #197, Marie #556.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Kathleen held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Marie in 11.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #227 in 1996, Marie #288 in 1996.
The order changed in 2025: Marie moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #1036 and #1894; by 2025 that had become #997 and #778.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kathleen #997, Marie #778.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1954–1977
Kathleen held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Marie in 5.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #31 in 1954, Marie #38 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1977: Kathleen #89, Marie #87.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2024
Kathleen held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Marie in 1.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #112 in 1997, Marie #197 in 1998.
The order changed in 2024: Marie moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #333 and #397; by 2024 that had become #407 and #337.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kathleen #407, Marie #337.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1952–1965
Kathleen held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Marie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #29 in 1952, Marie #60 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Kathleen #46, Marie #100.
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 | Kathleen | Marie |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) | Norway · Girls #45 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kathleen and Marie both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Kathleen
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #29 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #997 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Marie
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #73 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Norway, in 1992 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #778 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls