Ellen vs Kate
Ellen 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 1996, Ellen was ranked #73 and Kate #17 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1996, Ellen was ranked #73 and Kate #32 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ellen was ranked #166 and Kate #52 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #150 and Kate #134 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2022, Ellen was ranked #205 and Kate #490 among girls in Norway.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #541 and Kate #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #736 and Kate #1302 among girls in England and Wales.
Ellen and Kate over time
Ellen and Kate appear together in 5 published lists, across 190 years of shared records. Kate held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Ellen in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Ellen 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 2018, Kate moved ahead of Ellen in Northern Ireland · Girls — #103 and #122 the year before became #145 and #101.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ellen and Kate changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #736 and #1302.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Ellen and Kate averaged 34.3 places apart, ending at #150 and #134.
- Longest-running competitions
Ellen and Kate were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 66 years, from 1945 to 2022, ending at #205 and #490.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ellen #63 in 1996, Kate #59 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #63 and #59 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #736 and #1302.
List by list
Norway · Girls66 shared years, 1945–2022
Ellen held the stronger position in 66 of those years, Kate in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #15 in 1955, Kate #104 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Ellen #205, Kate #490.
Republic of Ireland · Girls58 shared years, 1964–2025
Ellen held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Kate in 41.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #23 in 2002, Kate #10 in 2007.
The order changed in 1998: Kate moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #24 and #26; by 1998 that had become #26 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellen #166, Kate #52.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ellen held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Kate in 18.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #63 in 1996, Kate #59 in 1996.
The order changed in 2023: Ellen moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #785 and #775; by 2023 that had become #962 and #1108.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ellen #736, Kate #1302.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Ellen held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Kate in 10.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #21 in 2000, Kate #47 in 2005.
The order changed in 2018: Kate moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #103 and #122; by 2018 that had become #145 and #101.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ellen #150, Kate #134.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls9 shared years, 1988–1996
Ellen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kate in 9.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #68 in 1993, Kate #15 in 1991.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Ellen #73, Kate #32.
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 | Ellen | 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 | 2 | 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 #166 (2025) | 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); Ellen does not have one recorded yet.
- Ellen and Kate both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kate; Ellen 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
Ellen
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #29 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in Norway, in 1955 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #208 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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