Abigail vs Kathryn
Abigail and Kathryncompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #80 and Kathryn #337 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1994, Abigail was ranked #92 and Kathryn #83 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Abigail was ranked #84 and Kathryn #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #102 and Kathryn #790 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #171 and Kathryn #2788 among girls in England and Wales.
Abigail and Kathryn over time
Abigail and Kathryn appear together in 3 published lists, across 101 years of shared records. Abigail held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Kathryn in 1.
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 3 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2001, Abigail moved ahead of Kathryn in Northern Ireland · Girls — #61 and #53 the year before became #59 and #63.
- Longest-running competitions
Abigail and Kathryn were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #171 and #2788.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls47 shared years, 1969–2023
Abigail held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Kathryn in 24.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #36 in 2008, Kathryn #141 in 1989.
The order changed in 1996: Abigail moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #211 and #194; by 1996 that had become #142 and #248.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Abigail #84, Kathryn #856.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Kathryn in 0.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #19 in 2000, Kathryn #83 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #171, Kathryn #2788.
Northern Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 1997–2024
Abigail held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Kathryn in 4.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #29 in 2005, Kathryn #40 in 1997.
The order changed in 2001: Abigail moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #61 and #53; by 2001 that had become #59 and #63.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Abigail #80, Kathryn #337.
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 Abigail
Pairs where Abigail shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Shannon vs Abigail
In 1996 they stood at #11 and #21 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #2138 and #171.
Shannon · Abigail · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Danielle vs Abigail
In 1996 they stood at #20 and #21 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #1454 and #171.
Danielle · Abigail · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jade vs Abigail
In 1996 they stood at #19 and #21 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #747 and #171.
Jade · Abigail · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Fiona vs Abigail
In 1997 they stood at #66 and #72 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2017 they were #432 and #48.
Fiona · Abigail · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Abigail | Kathryn |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #55 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2788 (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
- Abigail has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Kathryn.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in England and Wales, in 2000 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #171 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
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