Jennifer vs Kate
Jennifer 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 2003, Jennifer was ranked #84 and Kate #19 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Jennifer was ranked #413 and Kate #52 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2003, Jennifer was ranked #88 and Kate #69 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Jennifer was ranked #354 and Kate #103 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Jennifer was ranked #384 and Kate #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Jennifer was ranked #483 and Kate #1302 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2020, Jennifer was ranked #493 and Kate #496 among girls in Norway.
Jennifer and Kate over time
Jennifer and Kate appear together in 6 published lists, across 216 years of shared records. Kate held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Jennifer in 2.
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.
Jennifer reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 1980, Kate moved ahead of Jennifer in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #15 and #20 the year before became #17 and #15.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jennifer and Kate changed places 6 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #483 and #1302.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Jennifer and Kate averaged 24.7 places apart, ending at #88 and #69.
- Longest-running competitions
Jennifer and Kate were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 31 years, from 1973 to 2003, ending at #88 and #69.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Jennifer #54 in 1996, Kate #59 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #54 and #59 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #483 and #1302.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls58 shared years, 1964–2025
Jennifer held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Kate in 29.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #4 in 1981, Kate #10 in 2007.
The order changed in 1997: Kate moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #24 and #25; by 1997 that had become #31 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jennifer #413, Kate #52.
Norway · Girls46 shared years, 1946–2020
Jennifer held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Kate in 14.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #192 in 1985, Kate #104 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Jennifer #493, Kate #496.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls31 shared years, 1973–2003
Jennifer held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Kate in 24.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #10 in 1973, Kate #11 in 1986.
The order changed in 1980: Kate moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #15 and #20; by 1980 that had become #17 and #15.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Jennifer #88, Kate #69.
New Zealand · Girls30 shared years, 1973–2003
Jennifer held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Kate in 18.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #15 in 1981, Kate #15 in 1992.
The order changed in 1987: Kate moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #24 and #26; by 1987 that had become #27 and #17.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Jennifer #84, Kate #19.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jennifer held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Kate in 5.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #54 in 1996, Kate #59 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jennifer #483, Kate #1302.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2022
Jennifer held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Kate in 19.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #55 in 1997, Kate #47 in 2005.
The order changed in 2000: Kate moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #82 and #104; by 2000 that had become #80 and #80.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Jennifer #354, Kate #103.
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 | Jennifer | Kate |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From a Cornish form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere), combining 'gwyn' and 'hwyfar'. Confined mainly to Cornwall until George Bernard Shaw's 1906 play The Doctor's Dilemma sparked wider adoption. | 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 | Welsh, via Cornish transmission | Greek, short form of Katherine |
| Pronunciation | /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ɪ.fəɹ/ | /ˈkeɪt/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #52 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jennifer is recorded with a Welsh, via Cornish transmission origin, while Kate is recorded with a Greek, short form of Katherine origin.
- Jennifer has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Kate.
- Jennifer's recorded meaning differs from Kate's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Jennifer
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #331 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1956 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #413 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