Namewise

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 2025, Colin was ranked #1538 and Kenneth #1007 among boys in England and Wales.

Colin and Kenneth over time

Colin and Kenneth appear together in 5 published lists, across 173 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 2025, ending at #1538 and #1007.

  • 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 England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1538 and #1007.

  • 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 · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Colin held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Kenneth in 8.

    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, 2025: Colin #1538, Kenneth #1007.

  • 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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Colin

Pairs where Colin shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Kenneth

Pairs where Kenneth shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.

All closest over the longest run→

Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists

Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New South Wales, Australia overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 1970s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1970 and 1979.

The 1970s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Colin, Kenneth
FieldColinKenneth
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedAn 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.
OriginNot yet recordedScottish Gaelic
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈkɛn.əθ/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Boys #119 (2025)England and Wales · Boys #1007 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–1983

    Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1983).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1538 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Kenneth

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1945–2021

    Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in Norway, in 1979 (recorded 1945–2021).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1007 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys