Aimee vs Kelly
Aimee and Kellycompared 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1998, Aimee was ranked #45 and Kelly #89 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1993, Aimee was ranked #87 and Kelly #83 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Aimee was ranked #190 and Kelly #446 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Aimee was ranked #226 and Kelly #404 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Aimee was ranked #541 and Kelly #790 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Aimee was ranked #1603 and Kelly #1672 among girls in England and Wales.
Aimee and Kelly over time
Aimee and Kelly appear together in 4 published lists, across 113 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Kelly reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Aimee 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 1997, Aimee moved ahead of Kelly in New Zealand · Girls — #79 and #70 the year before became #56 and #70.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Aimee and Kelly averaged 29.5 places apart, ending at #45 and #89.
- Longest-running competitions
Aimee and Kelly were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 47 years, from 1977 to 2023, ending at #226 and #404.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls47 shared years, 1977–2023
Aimee held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Kelly in 26.
Highest recorded here: Aimee #46 in 2005, Kelly #35 in 1994.
The order changed in 2003: Aimee moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #66 and #57; by 2003 that had become #48 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Aimee #226, Kelly #404.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Aimee held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Kelly in 1.
Highest recorded here: Aimee #47 in 2004, Kelly #74 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aimee #1603, Kelly #1672.
New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 1979–1998
Aimee held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Kelly in 17.
Highest recorded here: Aimee #31 in 1983, Kelly #3 in 1979.
The order changed in 1997: Aimee moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #79 and #70; by 1997 that had become #56 and #70.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Aimee #45, Kelly #89.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2021
Aimee held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Kelly in 0.
Highest recorded here: Aimee #9 in 2004, Kelly #101 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Aimee #190, Kelly #446.
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 | Aimee | Kelly |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A variant of Amy, influenced by the French Aimée, carrying associations of love ('beloved'). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | French, cognate with Amy | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeɪ.mi/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Amy, Aimée | 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 #885 (2025) | Scotland · Girls #790 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Aimee has a recorded origin (French, cognate with Amy); Kelly does not have one recorded yet.
- Aimee and Kelly both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Aimee; Kelly doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Aimee a "high" Data Confidence level and Kelly a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Aimee
Popularity journey
First recorded1977
First recorded at #429 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1977 — 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: #9 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Kelly
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1970–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1978 (recorded 1970–1998).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1672 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls