Namewise

Ava vs Katelyn

Ava and Katelyncompared 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, Ava was ranked #9 and Katelyn #2411 among girls in England and Wales.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2010, Ava was ranked #12 and Katelyn #92 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2019, Ava was ranked #15 and Katelyn #243 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Ava was ranked #26 and Katelyn #273 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Ava and Katelyn over time

Ava and Katelyn appear together in 3 published lists, across 85 years of shared records. Ava held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Katelyn 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.

Katelyn reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Ava 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 2005, Ava moved ahead of Katelyn in Northern Ireland · Girls — #151 and #76 the year before became #66 and #83.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Ava rose about as far as Katelyn fell — from #753 and #974 in 1996 to #9 and #2411 in 2024.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Ava and Katelyn were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 36 years, from 1989 to 2025, ending at #26 and #273.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 19892025

    Ava held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Katelyn in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Ava #1 in 2008, Katelyn #35 in 2003.

    The order changed in 1998: Ava moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #213 and #213; by 1998 that had become #88 and #126.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ava #26, Katelyn #273.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Ava held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Katelyn in 3.

    Highest recorded here: Ava #3 in 2018, Katelyn #185 in 2004.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Ava #9, Katelyn #2411.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 19982019

    Ava held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Katelyn in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Ava #9 in 2016, Katelyn #60 in 2003.

    The order changed in 2005: Ava moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #151 and #76; by 2005 that had become #66 and #83.

    Most recent shared year, 2019: Ava #15, Katelyn #243.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Ava, Katelyn
FieldAvaKatelyn
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningMeaning debated — no single origin is established with confidence.Not yet recorded
OriginDisputed — possibly Germanic, possibly a short form of EveNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈeɪvə/Not yet recorded
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNew South Wales, Australia · Girls #18 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Ava has a recorded origin (Disputed — possibly Germanic, possibly a short form of Eve); Katelyn does not have one recorded yet.
  • Ava has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Katelyn.
  • A meaning is recorded for Ava; Katelyn 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

Ava

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1978

    First recorded at #522 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1978 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1978–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2008 (recorded 1978–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #18 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

Katelyn

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1989

    First recorded at #503 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1989 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1989–2025

    Highest recorded position: #35 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2003 (recorded 1989–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #273 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls