Kate vs Linda
Kate and Lindacompared 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 1986, Kate was ranked #11 and Linda #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1979, Kate was ranked #25 and Linda #76 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Kate was ranked #52 and Linda #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Kate was ranked #108 and Linda #446 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2022, Kate was ranked #490 and Linda #360 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Kate was ranked #1079 and Linda #1892 among girls in England and Wales.
Kate and Linda over time
Kate and Linda appear together in 4 published lists, across 165 years of shared records. Kate held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Linda in 1.
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 took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Girls, Kate moved into the top 50 at #36 in 1989 as Linda fell out of it to #57, having been #34 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1977, Kate moved ahead of Linda in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #57 and #40 the year before became #33 and #42.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kate and Linda changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2022, ending at #490 and #360.
- Longest-running competitions
Kate and Linda were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1079 and #1892.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kate #59 in 1996, Linda #638 in 1997.
List by list
Norway · Girls66 shared years, 1945–2022
Kate held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Linda in 61.
Highest recorded here: Kate #104 in 1956, Linda #1 in 1975.
The order changed in 2020: Linda moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #457 and #459; by 2020 that had become #496 and #383.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Kate #490, Linda #360.
Republic of Ireland · Girls55 shared years, 1964–2025
Kate held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Linda in 21.
Highest recorded here: Kate #10 in 2007, Linda #13 in 1973.
The order changed in 1989: Kate moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #45 and #34; by 1989 that had become #36 and #57.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kate #52, Linda #718.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Kate held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Linda in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kate #59 in 1996, Linda #638 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kate #1079, Linda #1892.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1973–1986
Kate held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Linda in 4.
Highest recorded here: Kate #11 in 1986, Linda #28 in 1973.
The order changed in 1977: Kate moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #57 and #40; by 1977 that had become #33 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Kate #11, Linda #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 | Linda |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #52 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| 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); Linda does not have one recorded yet.
- Kate and Linda both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kate; Linda doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, 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 #1079 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Linda
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #329 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1975 (recorded 1945–2024).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1892 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls