Kathleen vs Nicola
Kathleen and Nicolacompared 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 Nicola #9 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Kathleen was ranked #197 and Nicola #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Kathleen was ranked #333 and Nicola #397 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Kathleen was ranked #997 and Nicola #4201 among girls in England and Wales.
Kathleen and Nicola over time
Kathleen and Nicola appear together in 4 published lists, across 127 years of shared records. Nicola held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Kathleen in 0.
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.
Kathleen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Nicola 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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Nicola moved into the top 50 at #34 in 1961 as Kathleen fell out of it to #52, having been #44 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1961, Nicola moved ahead of Kathleen in New Zealand · Girls — #44 and #48 the year before became #52 and #34.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kathleen and Nicola changed places 9 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2020, ending at #333 and #397.
- Longest-running competitions
Kathleen and Nicola were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #997 and #4201.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kathleen #227 in 1996, Nicola #87 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2024
Kathleen held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Nicola in 39.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #18 in 1965, Nicola #17 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kathleen #197, Nicola #898.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Kathleen held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Nicola in 23.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #227 in 1996, Nicola #87 in 1996.
The order changed in 2020: Kathleen moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #1063 and #1017; by 2020 that had become #807 and #1164.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kathleen #997, Nicola #4201.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2020
Kathleen held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Nicola in 12.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #112 in 1997, Nicola #72 in 1997.
The order changed in 2020: Kathleen moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #353 and #306; by 2020 that had become #333 and #397.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Kathleen #333, Nicola #397.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1957–1984
Kathleen held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Nicola in 13.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #41 in 1957, Nicola #4 in 1974.
The order changed in 1961: Nicola moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #44 and #48; by 1961 that had become #52 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Kathleen #100, Nicola #9.
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 | Nicola |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek, feminine form |
| Pronunciation | /ˈnɪk.ə.lə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicola has a recorded origin (Greek, feminine form); Kathleen does not have one recorded yet.
- Kathleen has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Nicola.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicola; Kathleen doesn't have one written yet.
- 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
Nicola
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #97 among girls in New Zealand in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1957–1996
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1957–1996).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls