Carys vs Kate
Carys 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 2017, Carys was ranked #651 and Kate #16 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Carys was ranked #333 and Kate #71 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Carys was ranked #431 and Kate #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Carys was ranked #855 and Kate #1302 among girls in England and Wales.
Carys and Kate over time
Carys and Kate appear together in 3 published lists, across 51 years of shared records. Kate held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Carys 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.
Kate reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Carys 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Carys and Kate changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #855 and #1302.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Carys #170 in 2006, Kate #47 in 2005.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Carys held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Kate in 21.
Highest recorded here: Carys #130 in 2004, Kate #59 in 1996.
The order changed in 2023: Carys moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #899 and #775; by 2023 that had become #774 and #1108.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Carys #855, Kate #1302.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 2003–2020
Carys held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kate in 12.
Highest recorded here: Carys #170 in 2006, Kate #47 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Carys #333, Kate #71.
Republic of Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 2003–2017
Carys held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kate in 10.
Highest recorded here: Carys #511 in 2004, Kate #14 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Carys #651, Kate #16.
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 | Carys | 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Girls #431 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #52 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 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); Carys does not have one recorded yet.
- Carys and Kate both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kate; Carys doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Carys
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #199 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #130 among girls in England and Wales, in 2004 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #855 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
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 #52 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls