The baby name Mary-Kate is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced MAIR-ee-kayt (IPA: /ˈmɛəriˌkeɪt/).
The baby name Mary-Kate is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced MAIR-ee-kayt (IPA: /ˈmɛəriˌkeɪt/).
Mary-Kate is in Origin.
Mary-Kate is a compound English and Irish given name joining Mary and Kate. Mary derives from Hebrew Miryam (via Greek and Latin), with debated meaning: often interpreted as “beloved,” “wished-for child,” or “bitter”; medieval Christian tradition also linked it to “star of the sea.” Kate is the English short form of Katherine (Greek Aikaterine), commonly connected with katharos “pure,” though the ultimate origin is uncertain.
Its use reflects the long prestige of Mary in the Christian world paired with the brisk, friendly Kate, and double names are especially familiar in Ireland and other Anglophone regions. The name gained broader pop-culture visibility through actress Mary-Kate Olsen in the 1990s. Variants include Mary Kate (unhyphenated), Marykate (solid), Mary-Cate, and extended forms like Mary-Katherine/Mary-Catherine; an Irish parallel is Máire Cáit. Diminutives and nicknames include Mary, Kate, Katie, Kay, and MK.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | Girls | 2025 | #1 | — | 874 |
| OM | 0 | #121 | 1 | 6,215 | |
| NA | Girls | 0 | #237 | 1 | 7,146 |
| GR | Girls | 0 | #249 | 1 | 6,293 |
| Canada | Girls | 2019 | #296 | 5 | 2,976 |
| MU | Girls | 0 | #361 | 2 | 8,539 |
| France | Girls | 2006 | #403 | 4 | 3,155 |
| IR | Girls | 0 | #545 | 1 | 8,334 |
| ZA | Girls | 0 | #1,232 | 5 | 25,928 |
Mary-Kate is popular in 8 countries — most recent births per country:
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