Hayley vs Kate
Hayley 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2008, Hayley was ranked #33 and Kate #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Hayley was ranked #148 and Kate #52 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2014, Hayley was ranked #100 and Kate #81 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Hayley was ranked #227 and Kate #134 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Hayley was ranked #230 and Kate #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Hayley was ranked #503 and Kate #1302 among girls in England and Wales.
Hayley and Kate over time
Hayley and Kate appear together in 5 published lists, across 177 years of shared records. Kate held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Hayley in 0.
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.
Hayley 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, Hayley moved ahead of Kate in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #41 and #33 the year before became #31 and #38.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Hayley and Kate changed places 13 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1973 and 2014, ending at #100 and #81.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Hayley and Kate averaged 24.7 places apart, ending at #33 and #84.
- Longest-running competitions
Hayley and Kate were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 30 years, from 1979 to 2008, ending at #33 and #84.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Hayley #57 in 1996, Kate #59 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #57 and #59 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #503 and #1302.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls49 shared years, 1977–2025
Hayley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kate in 49.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #48 in 1997, Kate #10 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hayley #148, Kate #52.
New Zealand · Girls42 shared years, 1973–2014
Hayley held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Kate in 31.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #14 in 1990, Kate #14 in 2000.
The order changed in 2013: Kate moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #59 and #90; by 2013 that had become #86 and #81.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Hayley #100, Kate #81.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls30 shared years, 1979–2008
Hayley held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Kate in 20.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #18 in 2003, Kate #11 in 1986.
The order changed in 1999: Hayley moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #41 and #33; by 1999 that had become #31 and #38.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Hayley #33, Kate #84.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Hayley held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Kate in 21.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #57 in 1996, Kate #59 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hayley #503, Kate #1302.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024
Hayley held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Kate in 26.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #57 in 1997, Kate #47 in 2005.
The order changed in 1998: Kate moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #57 and #104; by 1998 that had become #136 and #69.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hayley #227, Kate #134.
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 | Hayley | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #148 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #52 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 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); Hayley does not have one recorded yet.
- Hayley and Kate both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kate; Hayley doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Hayley
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #401 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1973–2016
Highest recorded position: #14 among girls in New Zealand, in 1990 (recorded 1973–2016).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #148 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