Deborah vs Kim
Deborah and Kimcompared 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 · Girls
In 1980, Deborah was ranked #86 and Kim #45 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1985, Deborah was ranked #94 and Kim #78 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Deborah was ranked #451 and Kim #451 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2011, Deborah was ranked #536 and Kim #589 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Deborah was ranked #708 and Kim #4192 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Deborah was ranked #736 and Kim #736 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Deborah and Kim over time
Deborah and Kim appear together in 5 published lists, across 160 years of shared records. Deborah held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kim in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Deborah reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Kim 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 1964, Kim moved ahead of Deborah in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #10 and #15 the year before became #16 and #12.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Deborah and Kim changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1958 and 1985, ending at #94 and #78.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Deborah and Kim averaged 20.3 places apart, ending at #86 and #45.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kim rose about as far as Deborah fell — from #51 and #98 in 1952 to #86 and #45 in 1980.
- Longest-running competitions
Deborah and Kim were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 56 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #736 and #736.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Deborah #302 in 1996, Kim #382 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2024
Deborah held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Kim in 20.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #38 in 1981, Kim #64 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Deborah #736, Kim #736.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Deborah held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Kim in 0.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #302 in 1996, Kim #382 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Deborah #708, Kim #4192.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls29 shared years, 1952–1980
Deborah held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Kim in 17.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #3 in 1957, Kim #6 in 1959.
The order changed in 1964: Kim moved ahead. In 1963 they stood at #10 and #15; by 1964 that had become #16 and #12.
Most recent shared year, 1980: Deborah #86, Kim #45.
New Zealand · Girls27 shared years, 1958–1985
Deborah held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Kim in 13.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #3 in 1966, Kim #5 in 1968.
The order changed in 1974: Kim moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #16 and #20; by 1974 that had become #21 and #14.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Deborah #94, Kim #78.
Norway · Girls19 shared years, 1953–2011
Deborah held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Kim in 16.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #368 in 1957, Kim #231 in 1960.
The order changed in 2009: Deborah moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #586 and #460; by 2009 that had become #587 and #605.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Deborah #536, Kim #589.
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 | Kim |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #429 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #736 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Deborah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Kim does not have one recorded yet.
- Deborah has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Kim.
- A meaning is recorded for Deborah; Kim 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
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
Kim
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #344 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1958–1985
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1958–1985).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4192 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls