Kathryn vs Leah
Kathryn and Leahcompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Kathryn was ranked #856 and Leah #43 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1991, Kathryn was ranked #72 and Leah #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1994, Kathryn was ranked #83 and Leah #73 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Kathryn was ranked #337 and Leah #119 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Kathryn was ranked #790 and Leah #145 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Kathryn was ranked #2788 and Leah #183 among girls in England and Wales.
Kathryn and Leah over time
Kathryn and Leah appear together in 5 published lists, across 134 years of shared records. Leah held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kathryn in 2.
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.
Kathryn reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Leah 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 1985, Leah moved ahead of Kathryn in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #152 and #168 the year before became #173 and #170.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kathryn and Leah averaged 26.0 places apart, ending at #72 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Kathryn and Leah were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2788 and #183.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #40 and #35 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #337 and #119.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls49 shared years, 1966–2023
Kathryn held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Leah in 34.
Highest recorded here: Kathryn #141 in 1989, Leah #9 in 2004.
The order changed in 1985: Leah moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #152 and #168; by 1985 that had become #173 and #170.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Kathryn #856, Leah #43.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Kathryn held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Leah in 30.
Highest recorded here: Kathryn #83 in 1997, Leah #24 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kathryn #2788, Leah #183.
Northern Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 1997–2024
Kathryn held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Leah in 24.
Highest recorded here: Kathryn #40 in 1997, Leah #10 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kathryn #337, Leah #119.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 1968–1991
Kathryn held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Leah in 1.
Highest recorded here: Kathryn #35 in 1968, Leah #47 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Kathryn #72, Leah #100.
New Zealand · Girls9 shared years, 1976–1994
Kathryn held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Leah in 2.
Highest recorded here: Kathryn #41 in 1977, Leah #73 in 1994.
The order changed in 1994: Leah moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #77 and #83; by 1994 that had become #83 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 1994: Kathryn #83, Leah #73.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Leah
Pairs where Leah shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Leah vs Jodie
In 1996 they stood at #35 and #43 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #183 and #3035.
Leah · Jodie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Natasha vs Leah
In 1996 they stood at #33 and #35 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #1362 and #183.
Natasha · Leah · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Leah vs Chelsea
In 1996 they stood at #35 and #34 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #183 and #983.
Leah · Chelsea · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Louise vs Leah
In 1996 they stood at #44 and #35 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #816 and #183.
Louise · Leah · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Kathryn | Leah |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Likely derives from a Hebrew word meaning 'weary, grieved'; an alternative theory suggests a connection to Akkadian 'littu' ('cow'). In the Old Testament, Leah was Jacob's first wife. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew, etymology disputed |
| Pronunciation | /ˈliː.ə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2788 (2025) | Norway · Girls #12 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Leah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, etymology disputed); Kathryn does not have one recorded yet.
- Kathryn has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Leah.
- A meaning is recorded for Leah; Kathryn doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Kathryn
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #55 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 recorded1952–1993
Highest recorded position: #30 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1965 (recorded 1952–1993).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2788 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Leah
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #310 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1966–2025
Highest recorded position: #9 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1966–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #183 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls