Kathleen vs Mary
Kathleen and Marycompared 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 1984, Kathleen was ranked #100 and Mary #74 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1981, Kathleen was ranked #94 and Mary #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Kathleen was ranked #352 and Mary #112 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Kathleen was ranked #407 and Mary #134 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Kathleen was ranked #997 and Mary #329 among girls in England and Wales.
Kathleen and Mary over time
Kathleen and Mary appear together in 5 published lists, across 167 years of shared records. Mary held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Kathleen in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 1980, Kathleen moved ahead of Mary in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #80 and #79 the year before became #90 and #95.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kathleen and Mary changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1952 and 1981, ending at #94 and #100.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kathleen and Mary averaged 10.3 places apart, ending at #94 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Kathleen and Mary were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #997 and #329.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kathleen #227 in 1996, Mary #118 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Kathleen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 62.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #18 in 1965, Mary #1 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kathleen #352, Mary #112.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Kathleen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 30.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #227 in 1996, Mary #118 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kathleen #997, Mary #329.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls30 shared years, 1952–1981
Kathleen held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Mary in 22.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #29 in 1952, Mary #19 in 1952.
The order changed in 1980: Kathleen moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #80 and #79; by 1980 that had become #90 and #95.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Kathleen #94, Mary #100.
Northern Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 1997–2024
Kathleen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 25.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #112 in 1997, Mary #53 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kathleen #407, Mary #134.
New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 1954–1984
Kathleen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 20.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #31 in 1954, Mary #6 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Kathleen #100, Mary #74.
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 | Mary |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kathleen and Mary 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
Mary
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #67 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #329 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls