Katie vs Vanessa
Katie and Vanessacompared 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 Vanessa #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Katie was ranked #43 and Vanessa #391 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1995, Katie was ranked #55 and Vanessa #86 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2001, Katie was ranked #97 and Vanessa #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Katie was ranked #131 and Vanessa #351 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Katie was ranked #650 and Vanessa #719 among girls in England and Wales.
Katie and Vanessa over time
Katie and Vanessa appear together in 5 published lists, across 143 years of shared records. Katie held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Vanessa 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.
Vanessa 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1982, Katie moved ahead of Vanessa in New Zealand · Girls — #33 and #30 the year before became #33 and #38.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Katie and Vanessa changed places 8 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1976 and 2001, ending at #97 and #93.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Katie and Vanessa averaged 13.4 places apart, ending at #97 and #93.
- Longest-running competitions
Katie and Vanessa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #650 and #719.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1973–2025
Katie held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Vanessa in 8.
Highest recorded here: Katie #2 in 2004, Vanessa #97 in 1993.
The order changed in 1985: Katie moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #156 and #142; by 1985 that had become #113 and #145.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katie #41, Vanessa #413.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Katie held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Vanessa in 1.
Highest recorded here: Katie #9 in 2004, Vanessa #202 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katie #650, Vanessa #719.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls26 shared years, 1976–2001
Katie held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Vanessa in 10.
Highest recorded here: Katie #23 in 1986, Vanessa #25 in 1977.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Katie #97, Vanessa #93.
New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 1976–1995
Katie held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Vanessa in 6.
Highest recorded here: Katie #33 in 1981, Vanessa #20 in 1976.
The order changed in 1982: Katie moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #33 and #30; by 1982 that had become #33 and #38.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Katie #55, Vanessa #86.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2023
Katie held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Vanessa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Katie #1 in 2005, Vanessa #163 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Katie #43, Vanessa #391.
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 | Vanessa |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #41 (2025) | Norway · Girls #187 (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); Vanessa does not have one recorded yet.
- Katie has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Vanessa.
- A meaning is recorded for Katie; Vanessa 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
Vanessa
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1967–1995
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1973 (recorded 1967–1995).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #719 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls