Ashley vs Kate
Ashley 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, Ashley was ranked #443 and Kate #52 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2012, Ashley was ranked #72 and Kate #90 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2008, Ashley was ranked #82 and Kate #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Ashley was ranked #432 and Kate #122 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ashley was ranked #1406 and Kate #1302 among girls in England and Wales.
Ashley and Kate over time
Ashley and Kate appear together in 5 published lists, across 152 years of shared records. Kate held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Ashley in 0.
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.
Ashley reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 2012, Ashley moved ahead of Kate in New Zealand · Girls — #65 and #53 the year before became #72 and #90.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ashley and Kate changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1406 and #1302.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Ashley and Kate averaged 13.4 places apart, ending at #82 and #84.
- Longest-running competitions
Ashley and Kate were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 57 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #443 and #52.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ashley #152 in 1996, Kate #59 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2025
Ashley held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Kate in 50.
Highest recorded here: Ashley #128 in 1995, Kate #10 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ashley #443, Kate #52.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ashley held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Kate in 26.
Highest recorded here: Ashley #152 in 1996, Kate #59 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ashley #1406, Kate #1302.
New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1986–2012
Ashley held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Kate in 25.
Highest recorded here: Ashley #23 in 1991, Kate #14 in 2000.
The order changed in 2012: Ashley moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #65 and #53; by 2012 that had become #72 and #90.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Ashley #72, Kate #90.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls24 shared years, 1985–2008
Ashley held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Kate in 19.
Highest recorded here: Ashley #17 in 1987, Kate #11 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Ashley #82, Kate #84.
Northern Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 1997–2017
Ashley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kate in 16.
Highest recorded here: Ashley #127 in 1997, Kate #47 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Ashley #432, Kate #122.
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 | Ashley | Kate |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | Used for both boys and girls | 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 | /ˈkeɪt/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 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 #443 (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); Ashley does not have one recorded yet.
- Ashley and Kate both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kate; Ashley 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
Ashley
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #372 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 recorded1985–2011
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1987 (recorded 1985–2011).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #443 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