Kate vs Melanie
Kate and Melaniecompared 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 1996, Kate was ranked #17 and Melanie #96 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1997, Kate was ranked #33 and Melanie #82 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Kate was ranked #52 and Melanie #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Kate was ranked #81 and Melanie #336 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2020, Kate was ranked #496 and Melanie #503 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Kate was ranked #1079 and Melanie #863 among girls in England and Wales.
Kate and Melanie over time
Kate and Melanie appear together in 6 published lists, across 182 years of shared records. Kate held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Melanie in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Melanie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Kate 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1979, Kate moved ahead of Melanie in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #25 and #16 the year before became #20 and #22.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kate and Melanie changed places 16 times in Norway · Girls between 1970 and 2020, ending at #496 and #503.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kate and Melanie averaged 28.6 places apart, ending at #33 and #82.
- Longest-running competitions
Kate and Melanie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1079 and #863.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kate #59 in 1996, Melanie #239 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1966–2025
Kate held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Melanie in 11.
Highest recorded here: Kate #10 in 2007, Melanie #128 in 2000.
The order changed in 1980: Kate moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #161 and #155; by 1980 that had become #138 and #159.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kate #52, Melanie #885.
Norway · Girls33 shared years, 1970–2020
Kate held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Melanie in 10.
Highest recorded here: Kate #133 in 1970, Melanie #281 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Kate #496, Melanie #503.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Kate held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Melanie in 4.
Highest recorded here: Kate #59 in 1996, Melanie #239 in 1996.
The order changed in 2023: Melanie moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #775 and #809; by 2023 that had become #1108 and #754.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kate #1079, Melanie #863.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1973–1997
Kate held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Melanie in 6.
Highest recorded here: Kate #11 in 1986, Melanie #14 in 1977.
The order changed in 1979: Kate moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #25 and #16; by 1979 that had become #20 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Kate #33, Melanie #82.
New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1973–1996
Kate held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Melanie in 10.
Highest recorded here: Kate #15 in 1992, Melanie #8 in 1974.
The order changed in 1983: Kate moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #27 and #26; by 1983 that had become #22 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Kate #17, Melanie #96.
Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 1997–2019
Kate held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Melanie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kate #47 in 2005, Melanie #188 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Kate #81, Melanie #336.
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 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
Other comparisons involving Melanie
Pairs where Melanie shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Kelly vs Melanie
In 1978, Kelly moved ahead of Melanie in New Zealand · Girls — #12 and #8 the year before became #3 and #12.
Kelly · Melanie · 25 shared years, 1970–1996 · One moved ahead of the other
- Angela vs Melanie
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Angela and Melanie averaged 9.6 places apart, ending at #76 and #82.
Angela · Melanie · 28 shared years, 1970–1997 · Closest over the longest run
- Melanie vs Vanessa
Across 27 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Melanie and Vanessa averaged 10.8 places apart, ending at #84 and #91.
Melanie · Vanessa · 27 shared years, 1967–1993 · Closest over the longest run
- Melanie vs Renee
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Melanie and Renee averaged 11.2 places apart, ending at #78 and #79.
Melanie · Renee · 25 shared years, 1972–1996 · Closest over the longest run
Side by side
| Field | Kate | Melanie |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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) | Norway · Girls #482 (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); Melanie does not have one recorded yet.
- Kate has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Melanie.
- A meaning is recorded for Kate; Melanie 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
Melanie
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #385 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1966–1996
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1974 (recorded 1966–1996).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #863 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls