Colin vs Kenneth
Colin and Kennethcompared 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 · Boys
In 1972, Colin was ranked #70 and Kenneth #100 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1977, Colin was ranked #74 and Kenneth #99 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2021, Colin was ranked #164 and Kenneth #475 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2007, Colin was ranked #189 and Kenneth #315 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Colin was ranked #302 and Kenneth #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Colin was ranked #1000 and Kenneth #968 among boys in England and Wales.
Colin and Kenneth over time
Colin and Kenneth appear together in 5 published lists, across 172 years of shared records. Colin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Kenneth in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Kenneth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Colin 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 took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Colin moved into the top 50 at #47 in 1983 as Kenneth fell out of it to #53, having been #48 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1956, Colin moved ahead of Kenneth in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #25 and #21 the year before became #22 and #27.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Colin and Kenneth changed places 11 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1000 and #968.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Colin and Kenneth averaged 12.5 places apart, ending at #74 and #99.
- Longest-running competitions
Colin and Kenneth were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 39 years, from 1946 to 2021, ending at #164 and #475.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Colin #311 in 1997, Kenneth #345 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2024
Colin held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Kenneth in 18.
Highest recorded here: Colin #38 in 1985, Kenneth #26 in 1972.
The order changed in 1983: Colin moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #49 and #48; by 1983 that had become #47 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colin #302, Kenneth #785.
Norway · Boys39 shared years, 1946–2021
Colin held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Kenneth in 24.
Highest recorded here: Colin #164 in 2021, Kenneth #10 in 1979.
The order changed in 2007: Colin moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #330 and #230; by 2007 that had become #272 and #287.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Colin #164, Kenneth #475.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Colin held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Kenneth in 7.
Highest recorded here: Colin #311 in 1997, Kenneth #345 in 1996.
The order changed in 2023: Kenneth moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #1104 and #1179; by 2023 that had become #1610 and #1207.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colin #1000, Kenneth #968.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys26 shared years, 1952–1977
Colin held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Kenneth in 4.
Highest recorded here: Colin #22 in 1952, Kenneth #16 in 1952.
The order changed in 1956: Colin moved ahead. In 1955 they stood at #25 and #21; by 1956 that had become #22 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 1977: Colin #74, Kenneth #99.
New Zealand · Boys18 shared years, 1954–1972
Colin held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Kenneth in 0.
Highest recorded here: Colin #25 in 1955, Kenneth #28 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Colin #70, Kenneth #100.
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 | Colin | Kenneth |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | An Anglicized form of both Coinneach and Cináed, of Scottish Gaelic origin. Borne by the Scottish king Kenneth mac Alpin, who united the Scots and Picts in the 9th century. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Scottish Gaelic |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈkɛn.əθ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 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 | Norway · Boys #119 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #535 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kenneth has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic); Colin does not have one recorded yet.
- Colin and Kenneth both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kenneth; Colin doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Colin
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #326 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1983
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1983).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #119 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Kenneth
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #303 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2021
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in Norway, in 1979 (recorded 1945–2021).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #968 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys