Katie vs Melanie
Katie 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Katie was ranked #19 and Melanie #336 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Katie was ranked #41 and Melanie #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1996, Katie was ranked #48 and Melanie #96 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1997, Katie was ranked #77 and Melanie #82 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Katie was ranked #650 and Melanie #863 among girls in England and Wales.
Katie and Melanie over time
Katie and Melanie appear together in 5 published lists, across 136 years of shared records. Katie held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Melanie 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.
Melanie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Katie 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 1995, Katie moved ahead of Melanie in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #63 and #62 the year before became #67 and #70.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Katie and Melanie changed places 7 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1976 and 1997, ending at #77 and #82.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Katie and Melanie averaged 12.7 places apart, ending at #77 and #82.
- Longest-running competitions
Katie and Melanie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #650 and #863.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Katie #1 in 2004, Melanie #188 in 2002.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1973–2025
Katie held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Melanie in 7.
Highest recorded here: Katie #2 in 2004, Melanie #128 in 2000.
The order changed in 1983: Katie moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #216 and #165; by 1983 that had become #167 and #174.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katie #41, Melanie #885.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Katie held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Melanie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Katie #9 in 2004, Melanie #239 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katie #650, Melanie #863.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 1976–1997
Katie held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Melanie in 11.
Highest recorded here: Katie #23 in 1986, Melanie #14 in 1977.
The order changed in 1995: Katie moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #63 and #62; by 1995 that had become #67 and #70.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Katie #77, Melanie #82.
New Zealand · Girls19 shared years, 1976–1996
Katie held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Melanie in 9.
Highest recorded here: Katie #33 in 1981, Melanie #8 in 1977.
The order changed in 1985: Katie moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #41 and #31; by 1985 that had become #35 and #49.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Katie #48, Melanie #96.
Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 1997–2019
Katie held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Melanie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Katie #1 in 2004, Melanie #188 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Katie #19, 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.
Side by side
| Field | Katie | Melanie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A diminutive of Kate, itself a short form of Katherine. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek, diminutive form | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkeɪ.ti/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #41 (2025) | Norway · Girls #482 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Katie has a recorded origin (Greek, diminutive form); Melanie does not have one recorded yet.
- Katie has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Melanie.
- A meaning is recorded for Katie; Melanie 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
Katie
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #508 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #650 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