Kathleen vs Teresa
Kathleen and Teresacompared 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 1974, Kathleen was ranked #78 and Teresa #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Kathleen was ranked #100 and Teresa #96 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Kathleen was ranked #284 and Teresa #440 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Kathleen was ranked #352 and Teresa #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Kathleen was ranked #997 and Teresa #1362 among girls in England and Wales.
Kathleen and Teresa over time
Kathleen and Teresa appear together in 5 published lists, across 126 years of shared records. Kathleen held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Teresa 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.
Kathleen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Teresa in 1. 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 Republic of Ireland · Girls, Kathleen moved into the top 50 at #44 in 1974 as Teresa fell out of it to #57, having been #39 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1974, Kathleen moved ahead of Teresa in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #43 and #39 the year before became #44 and #57.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kathleen and Teresa changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #352 and #885.
- Longest-running competitions
Kathleen and Teresa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #997 and #1362.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kathleen #227 in 1996, Teresa #526 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #23 and #19 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #352 and #885.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Kathleen held the stronger position in 59 of those years, Teresa in 3.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #18 in 1965, Teresa #19 in 1964.
The order changed in 1974: Kathleen moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #43 and #39; by 1974 that had become #44 and #57.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kathleen #352, Teresa #885.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Kathleen held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Teresa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #227 in 1996, Teresa #526 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kathleen #997, Teresa #1362.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1957–1984
Kathleen held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Teresa in 6.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #41 in 1957, Teresa #60 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Kathleen #100, Teresa #96.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls9 shared years, 1963–1974
Kathleen held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Teresa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #38 in 1963, Teresa #86 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1974: Kathleen #78, Teresa #96.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1997–2013
Kathleen held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Teresa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #112 in 1997, Teresa #220 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Kathleen #284, Teresa #440.
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 | Teresa |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kathleen has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Teresa.
- 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
Teresa
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #387 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls