Alyssa vs Kate
Alyssa 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2008, Alyssa was ranked #37 and Kate #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alyssa was ranked #325 and Kate #52 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2013, Alyssa was ranked #76 and Kate #81 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Alyssa was ranked #337 and Kate #134 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Alyssa was ranked #171 and Kate #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alyssa was ranked #285 and Kate #1302 among girls in England and Wales.
Alyssa and Kate over time
Alyssa and Kate appear together in 5 published lists, across 109 years of shared records. Kate held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Alyssa in 2.
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.
Kate reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Alyssa 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls, Alyssa moved into the top 50 at #29 in 2002 as Kate fell out of it to #63, having been #40 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2009, Alyssa moved ahead of Kate in England and Wales · Girls — #165 and #160 the year before became #168 and #190.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alyssa held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Kate in 13.
Highest recorded here: Alyssa #144 in 2004, Kate #59 in 1996.
The order changed in 2009: Alyssa moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #165 and #160; by 2009 that had become #168 and #190.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alyssa #285, Kate #1302.
Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1991–2025
Alyssa held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kate in 29.
Highest recorded here: Alyssa #172 in 2015, Kate #10 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alyssa #325, Kate #52.
Northern Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 2001–2024
Alyssa held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kate in 24.
Highest recorded here: Alyssa #137 in 2016, Kate #47 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alyssa #337, Kate #134.
New Zealand · Girls15 shared years, 1999–2013
Alyssa held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Kate in 12.
Highest recorded here: Alyssa #37 in 2003, Kate #14 in 2000.
The order changed in 2011: Alyssa moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #68 and #53; by 2011 that had become #57 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alyssa #76, Kate #81.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls12 shared years, 1990–2008
Alyssa held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Kate in 5.
Highest recorded here: Alyssa #25 in 2004, Kate #15 in 1992.
The order changed in 2002: Alyssa moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #48 and #40; by 2002 that had become #29 and #63.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Alyssa #37, Kate #84.
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 | Alyssa | 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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (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); Alyssa does not have one recorded yet.
- Alyssa has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Kate.
- A meaning is recorded for Kate; Alyssa doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Alyssa
Popularity journey
First recorded1990
First recorded at #90 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1990 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1990–2019
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2004 (recorded 1990–2019).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #325 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