Namewise

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.

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 Katrina

Pairs where Katrina shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Vanessa

Pairs where Vanessa shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.

All closest over the longest run→

Other pairs from New Zealand lists

Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New Zealand overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 1990s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1990 and 1999.

The 1990s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Katrina, Vanessa
FieldKatrinaVanessa
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Official statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
OriginNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Pronunciation
Syllables33
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Girls #2278 (2025)Norway · Girls #187 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recordedNot yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1965–1990

    Highest recorded position: #16 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1965–1990).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2278 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Vanessa

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1967–1995

    Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1973 (recorded 1967–1995).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #719 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls