Kate vs Kirsten
Kate and Kirstencompared 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 1989, Kate was ranked #21 and Kirsten #99 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Kate was ranked #24 and Kirsten #621 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Kate was ranked #81 and Kirsten #426 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2022, Kate was ranked #490 and Kirsten #451 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Kate was ranked #1302 and Kirsten #5891 among girls in England and Wales.
Kate and Kirsten over time
Kate and Kirsten appear together in 5 published lists, across 158 years of shared records. Kate held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Kirsten in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Kirsten reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1977, Kate moved ahead of Kirsten in New Zealand · Girls — #68 and #62 the year before became #66 and #75.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kate and Kirsten changed places 10 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2022, ending at #490 and #451.
- Mirrored each other
Over 42 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Kate rose about as far as Kirsten fell — from #303 and #349 in 1971 to #24 and #621 in 2019.
- Longest-running competitions
Kate and Kirsten were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 62 years, from 1945 to 2022, ending at #490 and #451.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kate #59 in 1996, Kirsten #195 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #104 and #109 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2015 they were #81 and #426.
List by list
Norway · Girls62 shared years, 1945–2022
Kate held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Kirsten in 53.
Highest recorded here: Kate #104 in 1956, Kirsten #20 in 1945.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Kate #490, Kirsten #451.
Republic of Ireland · Girls42 shared years, 1971–2019
Kate held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Kirsten in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kate #10 in 2007, Kirsten #186 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Kate #24, Kirsten #621.
England and Wales · Girls27 shared years, 1996–2024
Kate held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Kirsten in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kate #59 in 1996, Kirsten #195 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kate #1302, Kirsten #5891.
Northern Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 1997–2015
Kate held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Kirsten in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kate #47 in 2005, Kirsten #75 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Kate #81, Kirsten #426.
New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 1973–1989
Kate held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Kirsten in 3.
Highest recorded here: Kate #17 in 1987, Kirsten #38 in 1974.
The order changed in 1977: Kate moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #68 and #62; by 1977 that had become #66 and #75.
Most recent shared year, 1989: Kate #21, Kirsten #99.
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 | Kate | Kirsten |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | 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. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek, short form of Katherine | Not yet recorded |
| 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, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #52 (2025) | Norway · Girls #510 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| 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); Kirsten does not have one recorded yet.
- Kate and Kirsten both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kate; Kirsten doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
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
Kirsten
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #20 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #510 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls