Aileen vs Kate
Aileen 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Aileen was ranked #718 and Kate #52 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Aileen was ranked #434 and Kate #101 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2016, Aileen was ranked #398 and Kate #457 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Aileen was ranked #2411 and Kate #1302 among girls in England and Wales.
Aileen and Kate over time
Aileen and Kate appear together in 4 published lists, across 116 years of shared records. Kate held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Aileen in 0.
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.
Aileen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Kate in 1. 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 1982, Kate moved ahead of Aileen in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #88 and #128 the year before became #110 and #110.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Aileen and Kate changed places 9 times in Norway · Girls between 1967 and 2016, ending at #398 and #457.
- Longest-running competitions
Aileen and Kate were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 55 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #718 and #52.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Aileen #1434 in 1996, Kate #59 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls55 shared years, 1964–2025
Aileen held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Kate in 39.
Highest recorded here: Aileen #81 in 1983, Kate #10 in 2007.
The order changed in 1982: Kate moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #88 and #128; by 1982 that had become #110 and #110.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aileen #718, Kate #52.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Aileen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kate in 29.
Highest recorded here: Aileen #1434 in 1996, Kate #59 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aileen #2411, Kate #1302.
Norway · Girls23 shared years, 1967–2016
Aileen held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Kate in 17.
Highest recorded here: Aileen #398 in 2016, Kate #133 in 1970.
The order changed in 2009: Aileen moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #525 and #503; by 2009 that had become #499 and #522.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Aileen #398, Kate #457.
Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 1997–2018
Aileen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kate in 9.
Highest recorded here: Aileen #221 in 1997, Kate #47 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Aileen #434, Kate #101.
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 | Aileen | 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #52 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 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); Aileen does not have one recorded yet.
- Aileen and Kate both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kate; Aileen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Aileen
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #100 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #81 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1983 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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