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Kate

“Variant of Katherine — Debated; possibly 'each of the two' (Greek), popularly linked to 'pure'” — Greek via French origin

Girl's name · #522 in the US (2025) · Heirloom

Kate is an heirloom: its strongest era came around 1880, when it ranked #79. It has thinned since but never left the records — about 86,000 girls since 1880, ranked #522 today. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Around the world: #53 in Ireland (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 39 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Kates

• Kate Winslet — English actress (born 1975)
• Kate Hudson — American actress and singer (born 1979)
• Kate Beckinsale — English actress (born 1973)
• Kate Bush — English singer, pianist and songwriter (born 1958)
• Kate Moss — English model and businesswoman

In stories & tradition

• Kate Austen — Lost
• Kate (Hawkeye) — Young Avengers · West Coast Avengers
• Kate Kane — Detective Comics · 52

What Kates become

Among 2,236 notable people named Kate:

Entertainers appear 1.69× more often than among typical names — e.g. Kate Winslet, English actress (born 1975).

Similar names: Katherine · Martha · Callie · Tate · Helen · Kara

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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