Anne vs Kate
Anne and Kate compared 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, Anne was ranked #544 and Kate #52 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1976, Anne was ranked #80 and Kate #57 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Anne was ranked #358 and Kate #81 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2022, Anne was ranked #121 and Kate #490 among girls in Norway.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #638 and Kate #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Anne was ranked #1110 and Kate #1079 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and Kate over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Anne and Kate over time
Anne and Kate appear together in 4 published lists, across 165 years of shared records. Kate held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Anne in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Anne 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 took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Girls, Kate moved into the top 50 at #36 in 1989 as Anne fell out of it to #55, having been #40 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1989, Kate moved ahead of Anne in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #40 and #45 the year before became #55 and #36.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Kate were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1110 and #1079.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anne #432 in 1996, Kate #59 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls66 shared years, 1945–2022
Anne held the stronger position in 66 of those years, Kate in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #1 in 1945, Kate #104 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Anne #121, Kate #490.
Republic of Ireland · Girls58 shared years, 1964–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Kate in 37.
Highest recorded here: Anne #5 in 1964, Kate #10 in 2007.
The order changed in 1989: Kate moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #40 and #45; by 1989 that had become #55 and #36.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #544, Kate #52.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Kate in 29.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Kate #59 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #1110, Kate #1079.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1998–2015
Anne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kate in 11.
Highest recorded here: Anne #225 in 2003, Kate #47 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Anne #358, Kate #81.
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 Anne
Pairs where Anne shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Anne vs Pauline
In 1964 they stood at #5 and #12 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2018 they were #336 and #896.
Anne · Pauline · 45 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anne vs Elizabeth
In 1964 they stood at #5 and #6 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #544 and #76.
Anne · Elizabeth · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anne vs Deirdre
In 1964 they stood at #5 and #14 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2019 they were #457 and #871.
Anne · Deirdre · 51 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anne vs Margaret
In 1964 they stood at #5 and #3 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #544 and #135.
Anne · Margaret · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Kate
Pairs where Kate shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Kate vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #59 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #1079 and #4867.
Kate · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ashleigh vs Kate
In 1996 they stood at #58 and #59 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #2788 and #1079.
Ashleigh · Kate · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Courtney vs Kate
In 1996 they stood at #52 and #59 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #2278 and #1079.
Courtney · Kate · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Amelia vs Kate
In 1996 they stood at #63 and #59 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #3 and #1079.
Amelia · Kate · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.
- Sean vs Adam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Adam moved into the top 50 at #9 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Adam · 61 shared years, 1965–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Charlie vs Oisin
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Oisin fell out of it to #247, having been #11 the year before.
Charlie · Oisin · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Charlie
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Charlie · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Liam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Liam moved into the top 50 at #11 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Liam · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Anne | Kate |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French form of Anna, from the Hebrew root 'hanan' carrying the sense of grace or favour. Imported to England in the 13th century but not popular until three centuries later. | 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 | Hebrew, via French transmission | Greek, short form of Katherine |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɑː.nə/ | /ˈkeɪt/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Ann, Ane, Anna | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #52 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Anne is recorded with a Hebrew, via French transmission origin, while Kate is recorded with a Greek, short form of Katherine origin.
- Anne and Kate both have 2 syllables.
- Anne'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 Anne 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
Anne
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #1 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1110 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #1079 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls