Namewise

Kate vs Stacey

Kate and Staceycompared 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 Stacey #97 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1993, Kate was ranked #24 and Stacey #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Kate was ranked #47 and Stacey #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2012, Kate was ranked #98 and Stacey #451 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Kate was ranked #1302 and Stacey #3015 among girls in England and Wales.

Kate and Stacey over time

Kate and Stacey appear together in 5 published lists, across 123 years of shared records. Kate held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Stacey in 0.

The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Stacey reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Kate 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 took the other's place near the top

    In Republic of Ireland · Girls, Kate moved into the top 50 at #30 in 1991 as Stacey fell out of it to #61, having been #39 the year before.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1991, Kate moved ahead of Stacey in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #40 and #39 the year before became #30 and #61.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Kate and Stacey changed places 6 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1973 and 1996, ending at #17 and #97.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 24 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Kate and Stacey averaged 15.9 places apart, ending at #17 and #97.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Kate and Stacey were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 41 years, from 1977 to 2024, ending at #47 and #898.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kate #59 in 1996, Stacey #97 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls41 shared years, 19772024

    Kate held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Stacey in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Kate #10 in 2007, Stacey #39 in 1990.

    The order changed in 1991: Kate moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #40 and #39; by 1991 that had become #30 and #61.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Kate #47, Stacey #898.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Kate held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Stacey in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Kate #59 in 1996, Stacey #97 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Kate #1302, Stacey #3015.

  • New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 19731996

    Kate held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Stacey in 8.

    Highest recorded here: Kate #15 in 1992, Stacey #15 in 1984.

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

    Most recent shared year, 1996: Kate #17, Stacey #97.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 19771993

    Kate held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Stacey in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Kate #11 in 1986, Stacey #34 in 1985.

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

    Most recent shared year, 1993: Kate #24, Stacey #96.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 19972012

    Kate held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Stacey in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Kate #47 in 2005, Stacey #133 in 1997.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2012: Kate #98, Stacey #451.

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, Stacey
FieldKateStacey
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
Syllables22
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, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #52 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #898 (2024)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

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

Stacey

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1973

    First recorded at #99 among girls in New Zealand in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New Zealand · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1973–1996

    Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1984 (recorded 1973–1996).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #3015 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Girls