Amelia vs Kate
Amelia 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #2 and Kate #1302 among girls in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2014, Amelia was ranked #6 and Kate #81 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #7 and Kate #541 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2008, Amelia was ranked #11 and Kate #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #12 and Kate #52 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #14 and Kate #134 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2022, Amelia was ranked #37 and Kate #490 among girls in Norway.
Amelia and Kate over time
Amelia and Kate appear together in 7 published lists, across 220 years of shared records. Amelia held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Kate in 3.
The order between them changed and held in 6 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 6 of those lists, and Amelia 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 1997, Amelia moved ahead of Kate in England and Wales · Girls — #63 and #59 the year before became #49 and #64.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Amelia and Kate changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #12 and #52.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Amelia and Kate averaged 40.9 places apart, ending at #11 and #84.
- Longest-running competitions
Amelia and Kate were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 46 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #2 and #1302.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Scotland · Girls within 2 years — Amelia #7 in 2024, Kate #541 in 2024.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #63 and #59 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #2 and #1302.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls53 shared years, 1964–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Kate in 35.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #3 in 2017, Kate #10 in 2007.
The order changed in 2012: Amelia moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #32 and #15; by 2012 that had become #12 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #12, Kate #52.
England and Wales · Girls46 shared years, 1996–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Kate in 1.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2011, Kate #59 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Amelia moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #63 and #59; by 1997 that had become #49 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #2, Kate #1302.
New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1986–2014
Amelia held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Kate in 18.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #6 in 2014, Kate #14 in 2000.
The order changed in 2004: Amelia moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #27 and #19; by 2004 that had become #22 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Amelia #6, Kate #81.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Kate in 10.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #4 in 2012, Kate #47 in 2005.
The order changed in 2008: Amelia moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #84 and #57; by 2008 that had become #61 and #78.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #14, Kate #134.
Scotland · Girls23 shared years, 2024–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Kate in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #7 in 2024, Kate #541 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #7, Kate #541.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 1985–2008
Amelia held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Kate in 14.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #11 in 2008, Kate #12 in 1985.
The order changed in 2001: Amelia moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #45 and #40; by 2001 that had become #34 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Amelia #11, Kate #84.
Norway · Girls20 shared years, 1967–2022
Amelia held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Kate in 4.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #37 in 2022, Kate #168 in 1972.
The order changed in 1999: Amelia moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #485 and #434; by 1999 that had become #490 and #620.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Amelia #37, 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 | Amelia | Kate |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'work' or 'industrious', with usage strongly influenced by the separate Roman name Aemilia. | 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 | Latin (influence) | Greek, short form of Katherine |
| Pronunciation | /əˈmiːliə/ | /ˈkeɪt/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Amelie, Amalia, Amy, Mia | 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 | United Kingdom #1 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #52 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Amelia is recorded with a Latin (influence) origin, while Kate is recorded with a Greek, short form of Katherine origin.
- Amelia has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Kate.
- Amelia's recorded meaning differs from Kate's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Amelia a "high" Data Confidence level and Kate a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Amelia
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #300 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 recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2 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