Gemma vs Kate
Gemma 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 2008, Gemma was ranked #60 and Kate #25 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Gemma was ranked #718 and Kate #52 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2008, Gemma was ranked #78 and Kate #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Gemma was ranked #353 and Kate #92 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Gemma was ranked #1541 and Kate #1302 among girls in England and Wales.
Gemma and Kate over time
Gemma and Kate appear together in 5 published lists, across 154 years of shared records. Kate held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Gemma in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Gemma 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 1999, Kate moved ahead of Gemma in England and Wales · Girls — #59 and #63 the year before became #72 and #71.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Gemma and Kate averaged 46.1 places apart, ending at #78 and #84.
- Longest-running competitions
Gemma and Kate were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 58 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #718 and #52.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Gemma #50 in 1996, Kate #59 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #50 and #59 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2024 they were #1541 and #1302.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls58 shared years, 1964–2025
Gemma held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Kate in 41.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #36 in 1992, Kate #10 in 2007.
The order changed in 1985: Kate moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #50 and #88; by 1985 that had become #70 and #55.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Gemma #718, Kate #52.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gemma held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Kate in 26.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #50 in 1996, Kate #59 in 1996.
The order changed in 1999: Kate moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #59 and #63; by 1999 that had become #72 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gemma #1541, Kate #1302.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls24 shared years, 1984–2008
Gemma held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Kate in 23.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #47 in 1991, Kate #11 in 1986.
The order changed in 2008: Gemma moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #97 and #65; by 2008 that had become #78 and #84.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Gemma #78, Kate #84.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1982–2008
Gemma held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Kate in 23.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #17 in 1984, Kate #14 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Gemma #60, Kate #25.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2016
Gemma held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Kate in 14.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #35 in 1997, Kate #47 in 2005.
The order changed in 2005: Kate moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #60 and #82; by 2005 that had become #99 and #47.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Gemma #353, Kate #92.
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 | Gemma | 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, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (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); Gemma does not have one recorded yet.
- Gemma and Kate both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kate; Gemma 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
Gemma
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #149 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1982–2008
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in New Zealand, in 1984 (recorded 1982–2008).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #718 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