Kathryn vs Michele
Kathryn and Michelecompared 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 1969, Kathryn was ranked #39 and Michele #93 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1972, Kathryn was ranked #49 and Michele #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 1997, Kathryn was ranked #219 and Michele #394 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2022, Kathryn was ranked #2888 and Michele #5669 among girls in England and Wales.
Kathryn and Michele over time
Kathryn and Michele appear together in 4 published lists, across 79 years of shared records. Kathryn held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Michele 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.
Michele reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Kathryn 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 1976, Kathryn moved ahead of Michele in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #195 and #121 the year before became #173 and #179.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kathryn and Michele averaged 23.8 places apart, ending at #49 and #95.
- Longest-running competitions
Kathryn and Michele were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 32 years, from 1964 to 1997, ending at #219 and #394.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kathryn #83 in 1997, Michele #1914 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls32 shared years, 1964–1997
Kathryn held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Michele in 12.
Highest recorded here: Kathryn #141 in 1989, Michele #59 in 1969.
The order changed in 1976: Kathryn moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #195 and #121; by 1976 that had become #173 and #179.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Kathryn #219, Michele #394.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls21 shared years, 1952–1972
Kathryn held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Michele in 1.
Highest recorded here: Kathryn #30 in 1965, Michele #44 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Kathryn #49, Michele #95.
England and Wales · Girls15 shared years, 1996–2022
Kathryn held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Michele in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kathryn #83 in 1997, Michele #1914 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Kathryn #2888, Michele #5669.
New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 1958–1969
Kathryn held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Michele in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kathryn #35 in 1967, Michele #50 in 1961.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Kathryn #39, Michele #93.
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 | Kathryn | Michele |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2788 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #5137 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kathryn has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Michele.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, 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
Michele
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #78 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 recorded1952–1972
Highest recorded position: #44 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1958 (recorded 1952–1972).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #5137 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys