Namewise

Katie vs Molly

Katie and Mollycompared 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, Katie was ranked #41 and Molly #20 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Katie was ranked #47 and Molly #28 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2009, Katie was ranked #92 and Molly #46 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2014, Katie was ranked #94 and Molly #67 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Katie was ranked #131 and Molly #68 among girls in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Katie was ranked #547 and Molly #104 among girls in England and Wales.

Katie and Molly over time

Katie and Molly appear together in 5 published lists, across 120 years of shared records. Katie held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Molly in 2.

The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Katie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Molly in 2. 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.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 1989–2025

    Katie held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Molly in 8.

    Highest recorded here: Katie #2 in 2004, Molly #18 in 2019.

    The order changed in 2018: Molly moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #28 and #32; by 2018 that had become #30 and #28.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Katie #41, Molly #20.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024

    Katie held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Molly in 14.

    Highest recorded here: Katie #9 in 2004, Molly #15 in 2001.

    The order changed in 2011: Molly moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #40 and #42; by 2011 that had become #57 and #46.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Katie #547, Molly #104.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Katie held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Molly in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Katie #1 in 2004, Molly #18 in 2007.

    The order changed in 2023: Molly moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #19 and #27; by 2023 that had become #43 and #27.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Katie #47, Molly #28.

  • New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 1997–2014

    Katie held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Molly in 9.

    Highest recorded here: Katie #33 in 2008, Molly #31 in 2003.

    The order changed in 2009: Molly moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #33 and #47; by 2009 that had become #57 and #33.

    Most recent shared year, 2014: Katie #94, Molly #67.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls11 shared years, 1996–2009

    Katie held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Molly in 9.

    Highest recorded here: Katie #77 in 1996, Molly #42 in 2006.

    The order changed in 1998: Molly moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #77 and #90; by 1998 that had become #88 and #60.

    Most recent shared year, 2009: Katie #92, Molly #46.

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 Katie

Pairs where Katie shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Molly

Pairs where Molly shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

Other pairs from New Zealand lists

Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New Zealand overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2010s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2010 and 2019.

The 2010s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Katie, Molly
FieldKatieMolly
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA diminutive of Kate, itself a short form of Katherine.Not yet recorded
OriginGreek, diminutive formNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈkeɪ.ti/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #41 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #20 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Katie has a recorded origin (Greek, diminutive form); Molly does not have one recorded yet.
  • Katie and Molly both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Katie; Molly doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Katie

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #41 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

Molly

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1989

    First recorded at #408 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1989 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1996–2024

    Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2001 (recorded 1996–2024).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #217 among girls in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Girls