Catherine vs Kate
Catherine 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Catherine was ranked #99 and Kate #17 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Catherine was ranked #90 and Kate #40 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Kate #52 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Kate #134 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Kate #541 among girls in Scotland.
Norway · Girls
In 2002, Catherine was ranked #546 and Kate #623 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Kate #1302 among girls in England and Wales.
Catherine and Kate over time
Catherine and Kate appear together in 6 published lists, across 208 years of shared records. Kate held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Catherine in 0.
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.
Catherine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 1978, Kate moved ahead of Catherine in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #30 and #33 the year before became #37 and #25.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Kate changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2024, ending at #227 and #134.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Catherine and Kate averaged 32.8 places apart, ending at #90 and #40.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Kate were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 46 years, from 1947 to 2002, ending at #546 and #623.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Kate #59 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #68 and #59 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2024 they were #594 and #1302.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls58 shared years, 1964–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Kate in 30.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Kate #10 in 2007.
The order changed in 1996: Kate moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #26 and #28; by 1996 that had become #35 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Kate #52.
Norway · Girls46 shared years, 1947–2002
Catherine held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Kate in 32.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #196 in 1972, Kate #106 in 1957.
The order changed in 1999: Catherine moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #552 and #437; by 1999 that had become #546 and #620.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Catherine #546, Kate #623.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Kate in 15.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Kate #59 in 1996.
The order changed in 2011: Catherine moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #290 and #210; by 2011 that had become #233 and #267.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #594, Kate #1302.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Kate in 17.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Kate #47 in 2005.
The order changed in 2013: Kate moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #89 and #98; by 2013 that had become #83 and #61.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Kate #134.
New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1973–2001
Catherine held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Kate in 20.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #19 in 1973, Kate #15 in 1992.
The order changed in 1979: Kate moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #27 and #38; by 1979 that had become #34 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Catherine #99, Kate #17.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls21 shared years, 1973–2000
Catherine held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Kate in 16.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #26 in 1975, Kate #11 in 1986.
The order changed in 1978: Kate moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #30 and #33; by 1978 that had become #37 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Catherine #90, Kate #40.
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 | Catherine | 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 | /ˈkeɪt/ | |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #52 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 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); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Kate.
- A meaning is recorded for Kate; Catherine doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Catherine
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #366 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #273 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