Carys vs Kelsey
Carys and Kelseycompared 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, Carys was ranked #383 and Kelsey #203 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Carys was ranked #651 and Kelsey #341 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Carys was ranked #431 and Kelsey #638 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Carys was ranked #997 and Kelsey #1271 among girls in England and Wales.
Carys and Kelsey over time
Carys and Kelsey appear together in 3 published lists, across 50 years of shared records. Kelsey held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Carys 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.
Kelsey reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Carys 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Carys and Kelsey were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #997 and #1271.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Carys #170 in 2006, Kelsey #114 in 2006.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Carys held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Kelsey in 14.
Highest recorded here: Carys #130 in 2004, Kelsey #87 in 1998.
The order changed in 2011: Carys moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #233 and #197; by 2011 that had become #239 and #254.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Carys #997, Kelsey #1271.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 2003–2012
Carys held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kelsey in 10.
Highest recorded here: Carys #170 in 2006, Kelsey #114 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Carys #383, Kelsey #203.
Republic of Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 2003–2017
Carys held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kelsey in 10.
Highest recorded here: Carys #511 in 2004, Kelsey #121 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Carys #651, Kelsey #341.
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 | Carys | Kelsey |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #997 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #544 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Carys and Kelsey both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Carys
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #199 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #130 among girls in England and Wales, in 2004 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #997 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Kelsey
Popularity journey
First recorded1989
First recorded at #80 among girls in New Zealand in 1989 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1989–1999
Highest recorded position: #48 among girls in New Zealand, in 1991 (recorded 1989–1999).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1271 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls