Josephine vs Kate
Josephine 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 1992, Josephine was ranked #81 and Kate #15 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Josephine was ranked #483 and Kate #52 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Josephine was ranked #355 and Kate #122 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2022, Josephine was ranked #238 and Kate #490 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Josephine was ranked #256 and Kate #1079 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Josephine was ranked #295 and Kate #541 among girls in Scotland.
Josephine and Kate over time
Josephine and Kate appear together in 4 published lists, across 148 years of shared records. Kate held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Josephine 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 1982, Kate moved ahead of Josephine in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #115 and #128 the year before became #124 and #110.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Josephine and Kate changed places 9 times in Norway · Girls between 1951 and 2022, ending at #238 and #490.
- Longest-running competitions
Josephine and Kate were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #256 and #1079.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Josephine #168 in 1997, Kate #59 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls58 shared years, 1964–2025
Josephine held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Kate in 44.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #25 in 1964, Kate #10 in 2007.
The order changed in 1982: Kate moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #115 and #128; by 1982 that had become #124 and #110.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Josephine #483, Kate #52.
Norway · Girls48 shared years, 1951–2022
Josephine held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Kate in 27.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #238 in 2022, Kate #119 in 1960.
The order changed in 1998: Josephine moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #513 and #437; by 1998 that had become #403 and #434.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Josephine #238, Kate #490.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Josephine held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Kate in 15.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #168 in 1997, Kate #59 in 1996.
The order changed in 2011: Josephine moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #308 and #210; by 2011 that had become #261 and #267.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Josephine #256, Kate #1079.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2017
Josephine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kate in 12.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #229 in 1998, Kate #47 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Josephine #355, Kate #122.
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 Josephine
Pairs where Josephine shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Anna vs Josephine
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #25 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #26 and #483.
Anna · Josephine · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Carmel vs Josephine
In 1964 they stood at #21 and #25 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2015 they were #896 and #462.
Carmel · Josephine · 46 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Susan vs Josephine
In 1964 they stood at #22 and #25 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2023 they were #856 and #445.
Susan · Josephine · 57 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Maria vs Josephine
In 1964 they stood at #33 and #25 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #74 and #483.
Maria · Josephine · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · 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
Side by side
| Field | Josephine | 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 | 4 | 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 | Norway · Girls #241 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #52 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 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); Josephine does not have one recorded yet.
- Josephine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Kate.
- A meaning is recorded for Kate; Josephine doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Josephine
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #367 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #256 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