Katie vs Rachael
Katie and Rachaelcompared 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 2017, Katie was ranked #15 and Rachael #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Katie was ranked #34 and Rachael #747 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1994, Katie was ranked #55 and Rachael #91 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2001, Katie was ranked #97 and Rachael #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Katie was ranked #650 and Rachael #3705 among girls in England and Wales.
Katie and Rachael over time
Katie and Rachael appear together in 5 published lists, across 139 years of shared records. Katie held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Rachael 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.
Rachael reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Katie 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 Zealand · Girls, Katie moved into the top 50 at #38 in 1992 as Rachael fell out of it to #79, having been #46 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1992, Katie moved ahead of Rachael in New Zealand · Girls — #52 and #46 the year before became #38 and #79.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Katie and Rachael changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1976 and 1994, ending at #55 and #91.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Katie and Rachael averaged 16.1 places apart, ending at #97 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Katie and Rachael were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #650 and #3705.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #20 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2017 they were #15 and #432.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1973–2022
Katie held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Rachael in 9.
Highest recorded here: Katie #2 in 2004, Rachael #56 in 1994.
The order changed in 1985: Katie moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #156 and #142; by 1985 that had become #113 and #150.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Katie #34, Rachael #747.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Katie held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Rachael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Katie #9 in 2004, Rachael #77 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katie #650, Rachael #3705.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls26 shared years, 1976–2001
Katie held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Rachael in 12.
Highest recorded here: Katie #23 in 1986, Rachael #44 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Katie #97, Rachael #100.
New Zealand · Girls19 shared years, 1976–1994
Katie held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Rachael in 8.
Highest recorded here: Katie #33 in 1981, Rachael #30 in 1978.
The order changed in 1992: Katie moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #52 and #46; by 1992 that had become #38 and #79.
Most recent shared year, 1994: Katie #55, Rachael #91.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2017
Katie held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Rachael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Katie #1 in 2004, Rachael #25 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Katie #15, Rachael #432.
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 | Rachael |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #41 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #3705 (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); Rachael does not have one recorded yet.
- Katie and Rachael both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Katie; Rachael 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
Rachael
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #245 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 recorded1969–1994
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1969–1994).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3705 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls