Darryl vs Kenneth
Darryl 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1971, Darryl was ranked #98 and Kenneth #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1972, Darryl was ranked #95 and Kenneth #100 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2001, Darryl was ranked #280 and Kenneth #280 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2017, Darryl was ranked #610 and Kenneth #495 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2023, Darryl was ranked #4107 and Kenneth #1207 among boys in England and Wales.
Darryl and Kenneth over time
Darryl and Kenneth appear together in 4 published lists, across 96 years of shared records. Kenneth held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Darryl in 0.
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.
Kenneth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Darryl 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1972, Darryl moved ahead of Kenneth in New Zealand · Boys — #93 and #81 the year before became #95 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Darryl and Kenneth were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 40 years, from 1966 to 2017, ending at #610 and #495.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Darryl #335 in 1996, Kenneth #345 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys40 shared years, 1966–2017
Darryl held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Kenneth in 39.
Highest recorded here: Darryl #156 in 1994, Kenneth #26 in 1972.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Darryl #610, Kenneth #495.
England and Wales · Boys26 shared years, 1996–2023
Darryl held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Kenneth in 25.
Highest recorded here: Darryl #335 in 1996, Kenneth #345 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Kenneth moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #335 and #345; by 1997 that had become #413 and #348.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Darryl #4107, Kenneth #1207.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys17 shared years, 1952–1971
Darryl held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kenneth in 17.
Highest recorded here: Darryl #66 in 1963, Kenneth #16 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Darryl #98, Kenneth #75.
New Zealand · Boys13 shared years, 1957–1972
Darryl held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Kenneth in 12.
Highest recorded here: Darryl #58 in 1963, Kenneth #32 in 1957.
The order changed in 1972: Darryl moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #93 and #81; by 1972 that had become #95 and #100.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Darryl #95, 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 | Darryl | 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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #4107 (2023) | Scotland · Boys #535 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 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); Darryl does not have one recorded yet.
- Darryl and Kenneth both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kenneth; Darryl doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Darryl
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #90 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1957–1975
Highest recorded position: #58 among boys in New Zealand, in 1963 (recorded 1957–1975).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #4107 among boys in England and Wales, in 2023.
England and Wales · 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