Kate vs Nell
Kate and Nellcompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Kate was ranked #52 and Nell #115 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Kate was ranked #134 and Nell #253 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Kate was ranked #541 and Nell #230 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Kate was ranked #1302 and Nell #400 among girls in England and Wales.
Kate and Nell over time
Kate and Nell appear together in 3 published lists, across 64 years of shared records. Kate held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Nell in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 3 of those lists, and Nell 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kate held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Nell in 11.
Highest recorded here: Kate #59 in 1996, Nell #263 in 2022.
The order changed in 2014: Nell moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #318 and #345; by 2014 that had become #359 and #353.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kate #1302, Nell #400.
Republic of Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1964–2025
Kate held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Nell in 1.
Highest recorded here: Kate #10 in 2007, Nell #114 in 2024.
The order changed in 1976: Kate moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #300 and #257; by 1976 that had become #271 and #497.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kate #52, Nell #115.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 2006–2024
Kate held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Nell in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kate #49 in 2006, Nell #253 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kate #134, Nell #253.
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 | Nell |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #52 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #115 (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); Nell does not have one recorded yet.
- Kate has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Nell.
- A meaning is recorded for Kate; Nell doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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
Nell
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #257 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #114 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #115 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls