Holly vs Katie
Holly and Katiecompared 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 2009, Holly was ranked #30 and Katie #92 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Holly was ranked #69 and Katie #41 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2014, Holly was ranked #44 and Katie #94 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Holly was ranked #105 and Katie #47 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Holly was ranked #79 and Katie #131 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Holly was ranked #137 and Katie #547 among girls in England and Wales.
Holly and Katie over time
Holly and Katie appear together in 5 published lists, across 156 years of shared records. Holly held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Katie 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.
Holly reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Katie 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 2009, Holly moved ahead of Katie in England and Wales · Girls — #22 and #20 the year before became #19 and #31.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Holly and Katie changed places 7 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1983 and 2014, ending at #44 and #94.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Holly and Katie averaged 40.5 places apart, ending at #30 and #92.
- Longest-running competitions
Holly and Katie were both ranked in New Zealand · Girls for 30 years, from 1983 to 2014, ending at #44 and #94.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Holly #12 in 2002, Katie #9 in 2004.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1979–2025
Holly held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Katie in 38.
Highest recorded here: Holly #11 in 2010, Katie #2 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Holly #69, Katie #41.
New Zealand · Girls30 shared years, 1983–2014
Holly held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Katie in 5.
Highest recorded here: Holly #16 in 1994, Katie #33 in 2008.
The order changed in 1993: Holly moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #49 and #38; by 1993 that had become #37 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Holly #44, Katie #94.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Holly held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Katie in 12.
Highest recorded here: Holly #12 in 2002, Katie #9 in 2004.
The order changed in 2009: Holly moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #22 and #20; by 2009 that had become #19 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Holly #137, Katie #547.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Holly held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Katie in 28.
Highest recorded here: Holly #22 in 2003, Katie #1 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Holly #105, Katie #47.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls24 shared years, 1983–2009
Holly held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Katie in 11.
Highest recorded here: Holly #22 in 2002, Katie #23 in 1986.
The order changed in 1994: Holly moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #80 and #49; by 1994 that had become #52 and #63.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Holly #30, Katie #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 | Holly | Katie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A diminutive of Kate, itself a short form of Katherine. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek, diminutive form |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkeɪ.ti/ | |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #69 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #41 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Katie has a recorded origin (Greek, diminutive form); Holly does not have one recorded yet.
- Holly and Katie both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Katie; 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
Katie
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #508 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #41 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls