Kate vs Lara
Kate and Laracompared 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, Kate was ranked #84 and Lara #28 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Kate was ranked #52 and Lara #102 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Kate was ranked #1302 and Lara #98 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Kate was ranked #134 and Lara #110 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2022, Kate was ranked #490 and Lara #129 among girls in Norway.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Kate was ranked #541 and Lara #131 among girls in Scotland.
Kate and Lara over time
Kate and Lara appear together in 5 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. Lara held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kate in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 5 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 4 of those lists, Lara 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Lara moved into the top 50 at #25 in 2002 as Kate fell out of it to #63, having been #40 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2005, Lara moved ahead of Kate in England and Wales · Girls — #92 and #98 the year before became #114 and #105.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kate and Lara changed places 11 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2024, ending at #134 and #110.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Kate and Lara averaged 33.1 places apart, ending at #134 and #110.
- Longest-running competitions
Kate and Lara were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 56 years, from 1969 to 2025, ending at #52 and #102.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1969–2025
Kate held the stronger position in 52 of those years, Lara in 2.
Highest recorded here: Kate #10 in 2007, Lara #80 in 2002.
The order changed in 1976: Kate moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #406 and #343; by 1976 that had become #271 and #329.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kate #52, Lara #102.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kate held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Lara in 20.
Highest recorded here: Kate #59 in 1996, Lara #85 in 2022.
The order changed in 2005: Lara moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #92 and #98; by 2005 that had become #114 and #105.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kate #1302, Lara #98.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Kate held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Lara in 10.
Highest recorded here: Kate #47 in 2005, Lara #51 in 2023.
The order changed in 2021: Lara moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #71 and #111; by 2021 that had become #108 and #97.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kate #134, Lara #110.
Norway · Girls28 shared years, 1968–2022
Kate held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Lara in 15.
Highest recorded here: Kate #133 in 1970, Lara #129 in 2022.
The order changed in 1999: Lara moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #434 and #615; by 1999 that had become #620 and #520.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Kate #490, Lara #129.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1999–2008
Kate held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Lara in 7.
Highest recorded here: Kate #38 in 1999, Lara #25 in 2002.
The order changed in 2002: Lara moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #40 and #41; by 2002 that had become #63 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Kate #84, Lara #28.
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 | Lara |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #52 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #102 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 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); Lara does not have one recorded yet.
- Kate and Lara both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kate; Lara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
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
Lara
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #553 among girls in Norway in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1999–2023
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2002 (recorded 1999–2023).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #144 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls