Abigail vs Kate
Abigail and Katecompared 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 2014, Abigail was ranked #33 and Kate #81 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2008, Abigail was ranked #34 and Kate #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #115 and Kate #52 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #80 and Kate #134 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #102 and Kate #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #154 and Kate #1302 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2022, Abigail was ranked #246 and Kate #490 among girls in Norway.
Abigail and Kate over time
Abigail and Kate appear together in 5 published lists, across 150 years of shared records. Abigail held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kate 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.
Kate reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Abigail 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Abigail moved into the top 50 at #30 in 2010 as Kate fell out of it to #53, having been #38 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2010, Abigail moved ahead of Kate in New Zealand · Girls — #43 and #38 the year before became #30 and #53.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Abigail and Kate changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2024, ending at #80 and #134.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Abigail and Kate averaged 39.4 places apart, ending at #33 and #81.
- Longest-running competitions
Abigail and Kate were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 53 years, from 1969 to 2025, ending at #115 and #52.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Abigail #29 in 2005, Kate #47 in 2005.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls53 shared years, 1969–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Kate in 49.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #36 in 2008, Kate #10 in 2007.
The order changed in 1976: Kate moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #282 and #406; by 1976 that had become #271 and #271.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #115, Kate #52.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Abigail held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Kate in 0.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #19 in 2000, Kate #59 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Abigail #154, Kate #1302.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Abigail held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Kate in 1.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #29 in 2005, Kate #47 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Abigail #80, Kate #134.
New Zealand · Girls23 shared years, 1991–2014
Abigail held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Kate in 18.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #30 in 2010, Kate #14 in 2000.
The order changed in 2010: Abigail moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #43 and #38; by 2010 that had become #30 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Abigail #33, Kate #81.
Norway · Girls17 shared years, 1983–2022
Abigail held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Kate in 5.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #246 in 2022, Kate #322 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Abigail #246, Kate #490.
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 | Abigail | Kate |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A short form of Katherine, used independently since the Middle Ages — appears in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew (1593) as a short form of Katherina. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek, short form of Katherine |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈkeɪt/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #55 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #52 (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
- Kate has a recorded origin (Greek, short form of Katherine); Abigail does not have one recorded yet.
- Abigail has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Kate.
- A meaning is recorded for Kate; Abigail doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Abigail
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #303 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in England and Wales, in 2000 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #55 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Kate
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #233 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2007 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #52 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls