Bethan vs Kelly
Bethan 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Bethan was ranked #451 and Kelly #268 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Bethan was ranked #873 and Kelly #430 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Bethan was ranked #2115 and Kelly #1672 among girls in England and Wales.
Bethan and Kelly over time
Bethan and Kelly appear together in 3 published lists, across 47 years of shared records. Kelly held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Bethan in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one 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 2 of those lists, and Bethan 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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Bethan #72 in 1996, Kelly #74 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #72 and #74 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #2115 and #1672.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Bethan held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Kelly in 2.
Highest recorded here: Bethan #72 in 1996, Kelly #74 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Kelly moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #1640 and #1774; by 2024 that had become #2115 and #1672.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bethan #2115, Kelly #1672.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2012
Bethan held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Kelly in 9.
Highest recorded here: Bethan #167 in 1999, Kelly #101 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Bethan #451, Kelly #268.
Republic of Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1995–2017
Bethan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kelly in 8.
Highest recorded here: Bethan #512 in 2002, Kelly #39 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Bethan #873, Kelly #430.
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 | Bethan | 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2115 (2024) | Scotland · Girls #790 (2024) |
| 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
- Bethan and Kelly both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Bethan
Popularity journey
First recorded1995
First recorded at #516 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1995 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #72 among girls in England and Wales, in 1996 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2115 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
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 recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1672 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls