Derek vs Kenneth
Derek 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 1970, Derek was ranked #95 and Kenneth #81 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 1998, Derek was ranked #272 and Kenneth #221 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Derek was ranked #472 and Kenneth #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Derek was ranked #727 and Kenneth #535 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Derek was ranked #1108 and Kenneth #968 among boys in England and Wales.
Derek and Kenneth over time
Derek and Kenneth appear together in 3 published lists, across 104 years of shared records. Kenneth held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Derek in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Kenneth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Derek 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Derek and Kenneth changed places 18 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2024, ending at #472 and #785.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 58 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Derek and Kenneth averaged 40.1 places apart, ending at #472 and #785.
- Longest-running competitions
Derek and Kenneth were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 58 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #472 and #785.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Derek #464 in 1996, Kenneth #345 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys58 shared years, 1964–2024
Derek held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Kenneth in 11.
Highest recorded here: Derek #22 in 1972, Kenneth #26 in 1972.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Derek #472, Kenneth #785.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Derek held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kenneth in 28.
Highest recorded here: Derek #464 in 1996, Kenneth #345 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Derek #1108, Kenneth #968.
New Zealand · Boys17 shared years, 1954–1970
Derek held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kenneth in 17.
Highest recorded here: Derek #76 in 1958, Kenneth #28 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1970: Derek #95, Kenneth #81.
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 | Derek | 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #535 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 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); Derek does not have one recorded yet.
- Derek and Kenneth both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kenneth; Derek doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Derek
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #89 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1972 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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