Namewise

Kathrin vs Thea

Kathrin and Theacompared 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.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 1990, Kathrin was ranked #660 and Thea #44 among girls in Norway.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2008, Kathrin was ranked #5545 and Thea #241 among girls in England and Wales.

Kathrin and Thea over time

Kathrin and Thea appear together in 1 published list, across 24 years of shared records. Thea held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Kathrin 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.

Kathrin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Thea 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 moved ahead of the other

    In 1977, Thea moved ahead of Kathrin in Norway · Girls — #285 and #290 the year before became #513 and #194.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Kathrin and Thea changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1965 and 1990, ending at #660 and #44.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 24 shared years in Norway · Girls, Thea rose about as far as Kathrin fell — from #299 and #395 in 1965 to #660 and #44 in 1990.

List by list

  • Norway · Girls24 shared years, 19651990

    Kathrin held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Thea in 16.

    Highest recorded here: Kathrin #285 in 1976, Thea #44 in 1990.

    The order changed in 1977: Thea moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #285 and #290; by 1977 that had become #513 and #194.

    Most recent shared year, 1990: Kathrin #660, Thea #44.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Kathrin, Thea
FieldKathrinThea
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedA short form of Dorothea, Theodora, Theresa and other similar-sounding Greek-rooted names.
OriginNot yet recordedGreek (via Germanic/Scandinavian transmission)
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈteː.a/
Syllables21
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, NOAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Girls #5545 (2008)Norway · Girls #50 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)60/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Thea has a recorded origin (Greek (via Germanic/Scandinavian transmission)); Kathrin does not have one recorded yet.
  • Kathrin has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Thea.
  • A meaning is recorded for Thea; Kathrin doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.

How each name got here

Kathrin

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1962

    First recorded at #508 among girls in Norway in 1962 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1962–1990

    Highest recorded position: #285 among girls in Norway, in 1976 (recorded 1962–1990).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent1990

    Most recently recorded at #660 among girls in Norway, in 1990.

    Norway · Girls

Thea

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1950

    First recorded at #380 among girls in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1950–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 2006 (recorded 1950–2025).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #50 among girls in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Girls