Katrina vs Vanessa
Katrina and Vanessacompared 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 1992, Katrina was ranked #89 and Vanessa #53 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1990, Katrina was ranked #81 and Vanessa #76 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2016, Katrina was ranked #526 and Vanessa #152 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Katrina was ranked #444 and Vanessa #224 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Katrina was ranked #898 and Vanessa #504 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Katrina was ranked #2278 and Vanessa #719 among girls in England and Wales.
Katrina and Vanessa over time
Katrina and Vanessa appear together in 5 published lists, across 160 years of shared records. Vanessa held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Katrina 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 1990, Vanessa moved ahead of Katrina in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #52 and #59 the year before became #87 and #48.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Katrina and Vanessa changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1963 and 1992, ending at #89 and #53.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Katrina and Vanessa averaged 14.2 places apart, ending at #89 and #53.
- Longest-running competitions
Katrina and Vanessa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2278 and #719.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Katrina #177 in 1996, Vanessa #202 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls51 shared years, 1965–2024
Katrina held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Vanessa in 50.
Highest recorded here: Katrina #172 in 1978, Vanessa #97 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Katrina #898, Vanessa #504.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Katrina held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Vanessa in 22.
Highest recorded here: Katrina #177 in 1996, Vanessa #202 in 1996.
The order changed in 2004: Vanessa moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #378 and #433; by 2004 that had become #424 and #403.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katrina #2278, Vanessa #719.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls29 shared years, 1963–1992
Katrina held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Vanessa in 19.
Highest recorded here: Katrina #23 in 1981, Vanessa #17 in 1975.
The order changed in 1990: Vanessa moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #52 and #59; by 1990 that had become #87 and #48.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Katrina #89, Vanessa #53.
Norway · Girls26 shared years, 1978–2016
Katrina held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Vanessa in 26.
Highest recorded here: Katrina #405 in 2005, Vanessa #152 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Katrina #526, Vanessa #152.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1967–1990
Katrina held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Vanessa in 20.
Highest recorded here: Katrina #16 in 1975, Vanessa #15 in 1973.
The order changed in 1983: Vanessa moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #35 and #38; by 1983 that had become #50 and #46.
Most recent shared year, 1990: Katrina #81, Vanessa #76.
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 | Katrina | Vanessa |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2278 (2025) | Norway · Girls #187 (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
- Katrina and Vanessa both have 3 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Katrina
Popularity journey
First recorded1962
First recorded at #85 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1962 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1965–1990
Highest recorded position: #16 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1965–1990).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2278 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Vanessa
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1967–1995
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1973 (recorded 1967–1995).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #719 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls