Holly vs Kate
Holly 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, Holly was ranked #27 and Kate #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2014, Holly was ranked #44 and Kate #81 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Holly was ranked #69 and Kate #52 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Holly was ranked #79 and Kate #541 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Holly was ranked #105 and Kate #134 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Holly was ranked #137 and Kate #1302 among girls in England and Wales.
Holly and Kate over time
Holly and Kate appear together in 5 published lists, across 161 years of shared records. Kate held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Holly 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.
Kate reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Holly 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2000, Holly moved ahead of Kate in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #45 and #38 the year before became #37 and #40.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Holly and Kate changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1976 and 2025, ending at #69 and #52.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Holly and Kate averaged 40.4 places apart, ending at #27 and #84.
- Longest-running competitions
Holly and Kate were both ranked in New Zealand · Girls for 32 years, from 1983 to 2014, ending at #44 and #81.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Holly #22 in 2003, Kate #47 in 2005.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1976–2025
Holly held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Kate in 43.
Highest recorded here: Holly #11 in 2010, Kate #10 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Holly #69, Kate #52.
New Zealand · Girls32 shared years, 1983–2014
Holly held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Kate in 18.
Highest recorded here: Holly #16 in 1994, Kate #14 in 2000.
The order changed in 2002: Holly moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #22 and #17; by 2002 that had become #17 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Holly #44, Kate #81.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Holly held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Kate in 0.
Highest recorded here: Holly #12 in 2002, Kate #59 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Holly #137, Kate #1302.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Holly held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Kate in 0.
Highest recorded here: Holly #22 in 2003, Kate #47 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Holly #105, Kate #134.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls26 shared years, 1983–2008
Holly held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Kate in 17.
Highest recorded here: Holly #19 in 2003, Kate #11 in 1986.
The order changed in 2000: Holly moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #45 and #38; by 2000 that had become #37 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Holly #27, Kate #84.
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 | Holly | 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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #69 (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); Holly does not have one recorded yet.
- Holly and Kate both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kate; Holly 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
Holly
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #392 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1976–2025
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2010 (recorded 1976–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #69 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