Katie vs Tara
Katie and Taracompared 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 Tara #166 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Katie was ranked #43 and Tara #178 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1999, Katie was ranked #50 and Tara #99 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2007, Katie was ranked #91 and Tara #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Katie was ranked #131 and Tara #384 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Katie was ranked #650 and Tara #444 among girls in England and Wales.
Katie and Tara over time
Katie and Tara appear together in 5 published lists, across 137 years of shared records. Katie held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Tara 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.
Tara 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 1989, Katie moved ahead of Tara in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #60 and #41 the year before became #39 and #42.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Katie and Tara changed places 6 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1983 and 2007, ending at #91 and #99.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Katie and Tara averaged 12.5 places apart, ending at #91 and #99.
- Longest-running competitions
Katie and Tara were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #650 and #444.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Katie #23 in 1986, Tara #20 in 1985.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1973–2025
Katie held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Tara in 13.
Highest recorded here: Katie #2 in 2004, Tara #27 in 1987.
The order changed in 1989: Katie moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #60 and #41; by 1989 that had become #39 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katie #41, Tara #166.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Katie held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Tara in 1.
Highest recorded here: Katie #9 in 2004, Tara #110 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Tara moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #510 and #637; by 2024 that had become #547 and #547.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katie #650, Tara #444.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2023
Katie held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Tara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Katie #1 in 2004, Tara #45 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Katie #43, Tara #178.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 1983–2007
Katie held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Tara in 9.
Highest recorded here: Katie #23 in 1986, Tara #20 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Katie #91, Tara #99.
New Zealand · Girls8 shared years, 1984–1999
Katie held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Tara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Katie #34 in 1986, Tara #64 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Katie #50, Tara #99.
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 | Tara |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #41 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #166 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| 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 has a recorded origin (Greek, diminutive form); Tara does not have one recorded yet.
- Katie and Tara both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Katie; Tara 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
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
Tara
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #327 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 recorded1983–2007
Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 (recorded 1983–2007).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #444 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls