Courtney vs Kate
Courtney 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 2006, Courtney was ranked #96 and Kate #28 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Courtney was ranked #727 and Kate #38 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2004, Courtney was ranked #94 and Kate #63 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Courtney was ranked #432 and Kate #122 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Courtney was ranked #2278 and Kate #1079 among girls in England and Wales.
Courtney and Kate over time
Courtney and Kate appear together in 5 published lists, across 123 years of shared records. Kate held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Courtney in 2.
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.
Courtney reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Kate in 2. 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 Northern Ireland · Girls, Kate moved into the top 50 at #47 in 2005 as Courtney fell out of it to #55, having been #43 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2005, Kate moved ahead of Courtney in Northern Ireland · Girls — #43 and #82 the year before became #55 and #47.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Courtney and Kate averaged 20.7 places apart, ending at #94 and #63.
- Longest-running competitions
Courtney and Kate were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2278 and #1079.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Courtney #17 in 1998, Kate #59 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #52 and #59 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #2278 and #1079.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Courtney held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Kate in 12.
Highest recorded here: Courtney #17 in 1998, Kate #59 in 1996.
The order changed in 2014: Kate moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #306 and #318; by 2014 that had become #399 and #359.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Courtney #2278, Kate #1079.
Republic of Ireland · Girls30 shared years, 1988–2023
Courtney held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kate in 30.
Highest recorded here: Courtney #43 in 1998, Kate #10 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Courtney #727, Kate #38.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls21 shared years, 1984–2004
Courtney held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Kate in 10.
Highest recorded here: Courtney #11 in 1996, Kate #11 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Courtney #94, Kate #63.
New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 1985–2006
Courtney held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Kate in 14.
Highest recorded here: Courtney #8 in 1996, Kate #14 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2006: Courtney #96, Kate #28.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2017
Courtney held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Kate in 13.
Highest recorded here: Courtney #12 in 1997, Kate #47 in 2005.
The order changed in 2005: Kate moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #43 and #82; by 2005 that had become #55 and #47.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Courtney #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 | Courtney | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2278 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #52 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 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); Courtney does not have one recorded yet.
- Courtney and Kate both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kate; Courtney 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
Courtney
Popularity journey
First recorded1984
First recorded at #68 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1984 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1985–2006
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1996 (recorded 1985–2006).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2278 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