Katie vs Ruby
Katie and Rubycompared 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 2009, Katie was ranked #92 and Ruby #9 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2014, Katie was ranked #94 and Ruby #10 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Katie was ranked #131 and Ruby #34 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Katie was ranked #41 and Ruby #36 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Katie was ranked #47 and Ruby #38 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Katie was ranked #547 and Ruby #41 among girls in England and Wales.
Katie and Ruby over time
Katie and Ruby appear together in 5 published lists, across 121 years of shared records. Ruby held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Katie 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 5 of those lists, and Ruby 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, Ruby moved into the top 50 at #37 in 2023 as Katie fell out of it to #51, having been #34 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2006, Ruby moved ahead of Katie in England and Wales · Girls — #11 and #12 the year before became #13 and #4.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Katie and Ruby changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1991 and 2025, ending at #41 and #36.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Katie and Ruby averaged 27.9 places apart, ending at #94 and #10.
- Longest-running competitions
Katie and Ruby were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 34 years, from 1991 to 2025, ending at #41 and #36.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls34 shared years, 1991–2025
Katie held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Ruby in 5.
Highest recorded here: Katie #2 in 2004, Ruby #16 in 2013.
The order changed in 2023: Ruby moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #34 and #38; by 2023 that had become #51 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katie #41, Ruby #36.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Katie held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Ruby in 19.
Highest recorded here: Katie #9 in 2004, Ruby #1 in 2007.
The order changed in 2006: Ruby moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #11 and #12; by 2006 that had become #13 and #4.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Katie #547, Ruby #41.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1998–2024
Katie held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Ruby in 4.
Highest recorded here: Katie #1 in 2004, Ruby #18 in 2011.
The order changed in 2020: Ruby moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #19 and #20; by 2020 that had become #24 and #20.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Katie #47, Ruby #38.
New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 1992–2014
Katie held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Ruby in 16.
Highest recorded here: Katie #33 in 2008, Ruby #1 in 2011.
The order changed in 1998: Ruby moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #59 and #61; by 1998 that had become #49 and #46.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Katie #94, Ruby #10.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2009
Katie held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Ruby in 9.
Highest recorded here: Katie #77 in 1997, Ruby #9 in 2009.
The order changed in 1998: Ruby moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #77 and #80; by 1998 that had become #88 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Katie #92, Ruby #9.
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 | Ruby |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A diminutive of Kate, itself a short form of Katherine. | Taken from the gemstone name; the ruby is the traditional July birthstone. As a given name it came into use in the 16th century. |
| Origin | Greek, diminutive form | English, ultimately from Latin rubeus ('red') |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkeɪ.ti/ | /ˈruːbi/ |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #41 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #28 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Katie is recorded with a Greek, diminutive form origin, while Ruby is recorded with a English, ultimately from Latin rubeus ('red') origin.
- Katie and Ruby both have 2 syllables.
- Katie's recorded meaning differs from Ruby's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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 #41 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Ruby
Popularity journey
First recorded1991
First recorded at #515 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1991 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2007 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #28 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls