Kate vs Susan
Kate and Susancompared 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 1985, Kate was ranked #12 and Susan #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Kate was ranked #20 and Susan #86 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Kate was ranked #38 and Susan #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Kate was ranked #122 and Susan #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2003, Kate was ranked #552 and Susan #570 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Kate was ranked #1302 and Susan #2253 among girls in England and Wales.
Kate and Susan over time
Kate and Susan appear together in 6 published lists, across 170 years of shared records. Kate held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Susan in 0.
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.
Susan 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kate moved into the top 50 at #33 in 1977 as Susan fell out of it to #51, having been #36 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1977, Kate moved ahead of Susan in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #57 and #36 the year before became #33 and #51.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kate and Susan changed places 16 times in Norway · Girls between 1946 and 2003, ending at #552 and #570.
- Longest-running competitions
Kate and Susan were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 50 years, from 1946 to 2003, ending at #552 and #570.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kate #59 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls53 shared years, 1964–2023
Kate held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Susan in 20.
Highest recorded here: Kate #10 in 2007, Susan #17 in 1969.
The order changed in 1988: Kate moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #48 and #41; by 1988 that had become #45 and #46.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Kate #38, Susan #856.
Norway · Girls50 shared years, 1946–2003
Kate held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Susan in 12.
Highest recorded here: Kate #104 in 1956, Susan #172 in 1961.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Kate #552, Susan #570.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kate held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Susan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kate #59 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kate #1302, Susan #2253.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 1997–2017
Kate held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Susan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kate #47 in 2005, Susan #187 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Kate #122, Susan #432.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls13 shared years, 1973–1985
Kate held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Susan in 4.
Highest recorded here: Kate #12 in 1985, Susan #31 in 1974.
The order changed in 1977: Kate moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #57 and #36; by 1977 that had become #33 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Kate #12, Susan #96.
New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 1973–1984
Kate held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Susan in 5.
Highest recorded here: Kate #20 in 1984, Susan #28 in 1973.
The order changed in 1978: Kate moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #66 and #47; by 1978 that had become #38 and #48.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Kate #20, Susan #86.
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 | Susan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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) | England and Wales · Girls #2253 (2024) |
| 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); Susan does not have one recorded yet.
- Kate and Susan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kate; Susan 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 #52 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Susan
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #239 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1985
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–1985).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2253 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls