Deborah vs Kerry
Deborah and Kerrycompared 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 · Girls
In 1978, Deborah was ranked #43 and Kerry #91 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1976, Deborah was ranked #56 and Kerry #97 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2009, Deborah was ranked #419 and Kerry #282 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Deborah was ranked #700 and Kerry #834 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Deborah was ranked #708 and Kerry #4843 among girls in England and Wales.
Deborah and Kerry over time
Deborah and Kerry appear together in 5 published lists, across 127 years of shared records. Deborah held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Kerry 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 1955, Deborah moved ahead of Kerry in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #18 and #16 the year before became #12 and #14.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Deborah and Kerry changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1968 and 2020, ending at #700 and #834.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Deborah and Kerry averaged 24.2 places apart, ending at #56 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Deborah and Kerry were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 46 years, from 1968 to 2020, ending at #700 and #834.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Deborah #302 in 1996, Kerry #136 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1968–2020
Deborah held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Kerry in 9.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #38 in 1981, Kerry #149 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Deborah #700, Kerry #834.
England and Wales · Girls25 shared years, 1996–2024
Deborah held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Kerry in 8.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #302 in 1996, Kerry #136 in 1996.
The order changed in 2005: Deborah moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #450 and #406; by 2005 that had become #374 and #494.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Deborah #708, Kerry #4843.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1952–1976
Deborah held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Kerry in 3.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #3 in 1957, Kerry #11 in 1956.
The order changed in 1955: Deborah moved ahead. In 1954 they stood at #18 and #16; by 1955 that had become #12 and #14.
Most recent shared year, 1976: Deborah #56, Kerry #97.
New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 1956–1978
Deborah held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Kerry in 0.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #3 in 1966, Kerry #53 in 1960.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1978: Deborah #43, Kerry #91.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2009
Deborah held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kerry in 10.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #116 in 1997, Kerry #82 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Deborah #419, Kerry #282.
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 | Deborah | Kerry |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | Used for both boys and girls |
| Meaning | From Hebrew, meaning 'bee'. In the biblical Book of Judges, Deborah was a prophetess who led the Israelites against Canaanite forces. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdɛb.ə.ɹə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #429 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4843 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Deborah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Kerry does not have one recorded yet.
- Deborah has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Kerry.
- A meaning is recorded for Deborah; Kerry 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
Deborah
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #51 among girls 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 · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1980
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1957 (recorded 1952–1980).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #429 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Kerry
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #23 among girls 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 · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1976
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1956 (recorded 1952–1976).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4843 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls