Alison vs Kate
Alison 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 1979, Alison was ranked #70 and Kate #25 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1996, Alison was ranked #97 and Kate #32 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alison was ranked #213 and Kate #52 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Alison was ranked #440 and Kate #61 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alison was ranked #1603 and Kate #1302 among girls in England and Wales.
Alison and Kate over time
Alison and Kate appear together in 4 published lists, across 121 years of shared records. Kate held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Alison 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.
Alison reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Kate 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 1980, Kate moved ahead of Alison in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #18 and #20 the year before became #19 and #15.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Alison and Kate averaged 38.5 places apart, ending at #97 and #32.
- Longest-running competitions
Alison and Kate were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 58 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #213 and #52.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alison #225 in 1996, Kate #59 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls58 shared years, 1964–2025
Alison held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Kate in 39.
Highest recorded here: Alison #33 in 1989, Kate #10 in 2007.
The order changed in 1991: Kate moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #38 and #40; by 1991 that had become #39 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alison #213, Kate #52.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kate in 29.
Highest recorded here: Alison #225 in 1996, Kate #59 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alison #1603, Kate #1302.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls24 shared years, 1973–1996
Alison held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Kate in 17.
Highest recorded here: Alison #18 in 1979, Kate #11 in 1986.
The order changed in 1980: Kate moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #18 and #20; by 1980 that had become #19 and #15.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Alison #97, Kate #32.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2013
Alison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kate in 10.
Highest recorded here: Alison #118 in 1998, Kate #47 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alison #440, Kate #61.
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 | Alison | 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, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (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); Alison does not have one recorded yet.
- Alison has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Kate.
- A meaning is recorded for Kate; Alison doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Alison
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #76 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 recorded1952–1996
Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1979 (recorded 1952–1996).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 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