Caleb vs Kai
Caleb and Kaicompared 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 · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #97 and Kai #20 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #26 and Kai #69 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Caleb was ranked #108 and Kai #34 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #42 and Kai #56 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #75 and Kai #72 among boys in England and Wales.
Caleb and Kai over time
Caleb and Kai appear together in 4 published lists, across 102 years of shared records. Kai held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Caleb in 1.
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.
Kai reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Caleb 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2012, Kai moved ahead of Caleb in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #72 and #80 the year before became #85 and #59.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Caleb and Kai changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #75 and #72.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Caleb and Kai averaged 39.2 places apart, ending at #75 and #72.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Caleb #20 in 2023, Kai #52 in 2021.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Caleb held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Kai in 22.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #72 in 2023, Kai #56 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caleb #75, Kai #72.
Republic of Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2025
Caleb held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Kai in 21.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #91 in 2024, Kai #30 in 2024.
The order changed in 2009: Kai moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #163 and #178; by 2009 that had become #177 and #170.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caleb #108, Kai #34.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1998–2024
Caleb held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Kai in 2.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #20 in 2023, Kai #52 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caleb #26, Kai #69.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys18 shared years, 2002–2024
Caleb held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Kai in 11.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #51 in 2002, Kai #20 in 2024.
The order changed in 2012: Kai moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #72 and #80; by 2012 that had become #85 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caleb #97, Kai #20.
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 | Caleb | Kai |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #108 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #23 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Caleb has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Kai.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Caleb
Popularity journey
First recorded1982
First recorded at #98 among boys in New Zealand in 1982 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1982–2023
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1999 (recorded 1982–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #108 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Kai
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #76 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded2002–2025
Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 2002–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #23 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys