Angela vs Kelly
Angela 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1995, Angela was ranked #68 and Kelly #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1998, Angela was ranked #88 and Kelly #89 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Angela was ranked #330 and Kelly #268 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Angela was ranked #555 and Kelly #404 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2012, Angela was ranked #513 and Kelly #588 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Angela was ranked #1229 and Kelly #2006 among girls in England and Wales.
Angela and Kelly over time
Angela and Kelly appear together in 6 published lists, across 169 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.
Angela reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Kelly 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Angela and Kelly changed places 10 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1964 and 1995, ending at #68 and #99.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Angela and Kelly averaged 12.9 places apart, ending at #68 and #99.
- Longest-running competitions
Angela and Kelly were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1229 and #2006.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Angela #382 in 1996, Kelly #74 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1969–2023
Angela held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Kelly in 36.
Highest recorded here: Angela #36 in 1969, Kelly #35 in 1994.
The order changed in 2023: Kelly moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #389 and #634; by 2023 that had become #555 and #404.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Angela #555, Kelly #404.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Angela held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Kelly in 12.
Highest recorded here: Angela #382 in 1996, Kelly #74 in 1996.
The order changed in 2010: Angela moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #495 and #438; by 2010 that had become #485 and #576.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Angela #1229, Kelly #2006.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls30 shared years, 1964–1995
Angela held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Kelly in 10.
Highest recorded here: Angela #13 in 1974, Kelly #6 in 1979.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Angela #68, Kelly #99.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1970–1998
Angela held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Kelly in 15.
Highest recorded here: Angela #3 in 1975, Kelly #3 in 1978.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Angela #88, Kelly #89.
Norway · Girls23 shared years, 1967–2012
Angela held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Kelly in 2.
Highest recorded here: Angela #248 in 1978, Kelly #380 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Angela #513, Kelly #588.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1997–2012
Angela held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Kelly in 7.
Highest recorded here: Angela #248 in 2000, Kelly #101 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Angela #330, Kelly #268.
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 | Angela | Kelly |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2006 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Angela has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Kelly.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Angela
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #362 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–1998).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1229 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2006 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls