Heather vs Kate
Heather and Kate compared 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 1986, Heather was ranked #97 and Kate #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1983, Heather was ranked #94 and Kate #22 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Heather was ranked #325 and Kate #52 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2007, Heather was ranked #351 and Kate #57 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Heather was ranked #351 and Kate #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Heather was ranked #792 and Kate #1079 among girls in England and Wales.
Heather and Kate over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Heather and Kate over time
Heather and Kate appear together in 4 published lists, across 107 years of shared records. Kate held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Heather 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.
Heather reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Kate in none. 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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 58 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Kate rose about as far as Heather fell — from #167 and #300 in 1964 to #325 and #52 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Heather and Kate were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #792 and #1079.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Heather #78 in 1996, Kate #59 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls58 shared years, 1964–2025
Heather held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Kate in 48.
Highest recorded here: Heather #83 in 2003, Kate #10 in 2007.
The order changed in 1978: Kate moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #215 and #225; by 1978 that had become #226 and #211.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Heather #325, Kate #52.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Heather held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Kate in 27.
Highest recorded here: Heather #78 in 1996, Kate #59 in 1996.
The order changed in 2023: Heather moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #785 and #775; by 2023 that had become #981 and #1108.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Heather #792, Kate #1079.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2007
Heather held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kate in 11.
Highest recorded here: Heather #166 in 2003, Kate #47 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Heather #351, Kate #57.
New Zealand · Girls8 shared years, 1973–1983
Heather held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Kate in 7.
Highest recorded here: Heather #77 in 1973, Kate #22 in 1983.
The order changed in 1974: Kate moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #77 and #95; by 1974 that had become #81 and #76.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Heather #94, Kate #22.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Heather
Pairs where Heather shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Nicola vs Heather
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #78 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #792.
Nicola · Heather · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Heather vs Rachael
In 1996 they stood at #78 and #77 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #792 and #3705.
Heather · Rachael · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Kelly vs Heather
In 1996 they stood at #74 and #78 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #2006 and #792.
Kelly · Heather · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Leanne vs Heather
In 1996 they stood at #88 and #78 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #2006 and #792.
Leanne · Heather · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Kate
Pairs where Kate shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Kate vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #59 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #1079 and #4867.
Kate · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ashleigh vs Kate
In 1996 they stood at #58 and #59 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #2788 and #1079.
Ashleigh · Kate · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Courtney vs Kate
In 1996 they stood at #52 and #59 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #2278 and #1079.
Courtney · Kate · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Amelia vs Kate
In 1996 they stood at #63 and #59 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #3 and #1079.
Amelia · Kate · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — mirrored each other.
- Nora vs Heidi
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Girls, Nora rose about as far as Heidi fell — from #219 and #188 in 1945 to #3 and #437 in 2025.
Nora · Heidi · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Henrik vs Morten
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Henrik rose about as far as Morten fell — from #141 and #107 in 1945 to #16 and #214 in 2025.
Henrik · Morten · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Henrik vs Nils
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Henrik rose about as far as Nils fell — from #141 and #26 in 1945 to #16 and #61 in 2025.
Henrik · Nils · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Peter vs Henrik
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Henrik rose about as far as Peter fell — from #106 and #141 in 1945 to #174 and #16 in 2025.
Peter · Henrik · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Heather | 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 | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #52 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kate has a recorded origin (Greek, short form of Katherine); Heather does not have one recorded yet.
- Heather and Kate both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kate; Heather 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
Heather
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #45 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1983
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1983).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #792 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