Namewise

Kate vs Madison

Kate and Madisoncompared 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 Madison #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2014, Kate was ranked #81 and Madison #31 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Kate was ranked #52 and Madison #148 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Kate was ranked #134 and Madison #134 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Kate was ranked #541 and Madison #135 among girls in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Kate was ranked #1302 and Madison #166 among girls in England and Wales.

Kate and Madison over time

Kate and Madison appear together in 5 published lists, across 121 years of shared records. Madison held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kate in 2.

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.

Kate reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Madison 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 2002, Madison moved ahead of Kate in England and Wales · Girls — #83 and #90 the year before became #82 and #80.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Kate and Madison changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1994 and 2014, ending at #81 and #31.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 21 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Kate and Madison averaged 22.3 places apart, ending at #81 and #31.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 27 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Madison rose about as far as Kate fell — from #28 and #516 in 1995 to #52 and #148 in 2025.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Kate #14 in 2000, Madison #14 in 2001.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Kate held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Madison in 23.

    Highest recorded here: Kate #59 in 1996, Madison #35 in 2007.

    The order changed in 2002: Madison moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #83 and #90; by 2002 that had become #82 and #80.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Kate #1302, Madison #166.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 19972024

    Kate held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Madison in 11.

    Highest recorded here: Kate #47 in 2005, Madison #37 in 2006.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Kate #134, Madison #134.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 19952025

    Kate held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Madison in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Kate #10 in 2007, Madison #86 in 2014.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Kate #52, Madison #148.

  • New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 19942014

    Kate held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Madison in 12.

    Highest recorded here: Kate #14 in 2000, Madison #14 in 2001.

    The order changed in 2006: Madison moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #24 and #27; by 2006 that had become #28 and #20.

    Most recent shared year, 2014: Kate #81, Madison #31.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls16 shared years, 19932008

    Kate held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Madison in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Kate #21 in 1994, Madison #18 in 2000.

    The order changed in 2000: Madison moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #38 and #41; by 2000 that had become #40 and #18.

    Most recent shared year, 2008: Kate #84, Madison #25.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Kate, Madison
FieldKateMadison
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA 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
OriginGreek, short form of KatherineNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈkeɪt/Not yet recorded
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #52 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #148 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Kate has a recorded origin (Greek, short form of Katherine); Madison does not have one recorded yet.
  • Kate has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Madison.
  • A meaning is recorded for Kate; Madison doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Kate

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2007 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #52 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

Madison

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1993

    First recorded at #75 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1993 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1994–2023

    Highest recorded position: #14 among girls in New Zealand, in 2001 (recorded 1994–2023).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #148 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls