Dennis vs Kenneth
Dennis 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 1965, Dennis was ranked #98 and Kenneth #55 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1970, Dennis was ranked #100 and Kenneth #67 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2021, Dennis was ranked #114 and Kenneth #475 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 1999, Dennis was ranked #277 and Kenneth #241 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dennis was ranked #453 and Kenneth #968 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Dennis was ranked #655 and Kenneth #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Dennis and Kenneth over time
Dennis and Kenneth appear together in 5 published lists, across 176 years of shared records. Kenneth held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Dennis in 1.
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.
Kenneth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Dennis in 1. 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 1999, Dennis moved ahead of Kenneth in Norway · Boys — #101 and #98 the year before became #90 and #139.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Dennis and Kenneth changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2024, ending at #655 and #785.
- Longest-running competitions
Dennis and Kenneth were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 61 years, from 1952 to 2021, ending at #114 and #475.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Dennis #34 in 1952, Kenneth #16 in 1952.
List by list
Norway · Boys61 shared years, 1952–2021
Dennis held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Kenneth in 38.
Highest recorded here: Dennis #70 in 2002, Kenneth #10 in 1979.
The order changed in 1999: Dennis moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #101 and #98; by 1999 that had become #90 and #139.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Dennis #114, Kenneth #475.
Republic of Ireland · Boys56 shared years, 1964–2024
Dennis held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Kenneth in 43.
Highest recorded here: Dennis #170 in 1968, Kenneth #26 in 1972.
The order changed in 2019: Dennis moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #635 and #369; by 2019 that had become #466 and #646.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dennis #655, Kenneth #785.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Dennis held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Kenneth in 6.
Highest recorded here: Dennis #316 in 2005, Kenneth #345 in 1996.
The order changed in 2003: Dennis moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #502 and #411; by 2003 that had become #428 and #633.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dennis #453, Kenneth #968.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys19 shared years, 1952–1970
Dennis held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kenneth in 19.
Highest recorded here: Dennis #34 in 1952, Kenneth #16 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1970: Dennis #100, Kenneth #67.
New Zealand · Boys11 shared years, 1954–1965
Dennis held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kenneth in 11.
Highest recorded here: Dennis #46 in 1954, Kenneth #28 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Dennis #98, Kenneth #55.
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 | Dennis | 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 | /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 #156 (2025) | 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); Dennis does not have one recorded yet.
- Dennis and Kenneth both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kenneth; Dennis 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
Dennis
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #34 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 recorded1952–1970
Highest recorded position: #34 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1970).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #156 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