Kate Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Kate is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Kate?
Kate is spelled K-A-T-E. The name has 4 letters.
Kate at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Kate is a diminutive form of Katherine, which is commonly believed to mean “pure.”
- Origin
- Kate is commonly associated as a short form of Katherine, a name linked to Greek elements meaning “pure.”
- Pronunciation
- kayt · 1 syllable
Kate Popularity in 2025
Rank#520
Recorded Births576
- Girls usage rose 13 places to #520 and recorded 4 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Kate Mean?
Kate is a diminutive form of Katherine, which is commonly believed to mean “pure.”
Origin: Kate is commonly associated as a short form of Katherine, a name linked to Greek elements meaning “pure.”
How Do You Pronounce Kate?
Pronunciationkayt
Syllables1
What Is the History of the Name Kate?
- History
- Kate has been used as a familiar form of Katherine for several centuries.
Kate Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2004 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 576 | #520 |
| 2024 | Girls | 572 | #533 |
| 2023 | Girls | 640 | #478 |
| 2022 | Girls | 695 | #456 |
| 2021 | Girls | 758 | #414 |
| 2020 | Girls | 765 | #411 |
| 2019 | Girls | 989 | #323 |
| 2018 | Girls | 1,163 | #285 |
| 2017 | Girls | 1,170 | #274 |
| 2016 | Girls | 1,389 | #234 |
| 2015 | Girls | 1,477 | #222 |
| 2014 | Girls | 1,620 | #208 |
| 2013 | Girls | 1,738 | #185 |
| 2012 | Girls | 1,643 | #192 |
| 2011 | Girls | 1,791 | #175 |
| 2010 | Girls | 1,490 | #208 |
| 2009 | Girls | 1,989 | #159 |
| 2008 | Girls | 2,421 | #139 |
| 2007 | Girls | 2,550 | #136 |
| 2006 | Girls | 2,441 | #142 |
| 2005 | Girls | 2,404 | #141 |
| 2005 | Boys | 5 | #11,472 |
| 2004 | Girls | 2,218 | #147 |
| 2004 | Boys | 9 | #7,536 |
When Was Kate Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2007 · Girls
2,550 recorded births
National rank #136
2006 · Girls
2,441 recorded births
National rank #142
2008 · Girls
2,421 recorded births
National rank #139
2005 · Girls
2,404 recorded births
National rank #141
Where Kate Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| ND | #117 | 8 |
| UT | #162 | 27 |
| ID | #193 | 11 |
| LA | #212 | 20 |
| IA | #258 | 13 |
| AR | #270 | 11 |
| NE | #296 | 7 |
| KS | #361 | 9 |