Elizabeth vs Kelly
Elizabeth and Kellycompared 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 1995, Elizabeth was ranked #24 and Kelly #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1998, Elizabeth was ranked #54 and Kelly #89 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Elizabeth was ranked #74 and Kelly #2006 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Elizabeth was ranked #106 and Kelly #404 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Elizabeth was ranked #113 and Kelly #790 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Elizabeth was ranked #116 and Kelly #446 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2019, Elizabeth was ranked #299 and Kelly #479 among girls in Norway.
Elizabeth and Kelly over time
Elizabeth and Kelly appear together in 6 published lists, across 188 years of shared records. Elizabeth held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Kelly in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Elizabeth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Kelly 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Elizabeth and Kelly changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1970 and 1998, ending at #54 and #89.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Elizabeth and Kelly averaged 25.5 places apart, ending at #24 and #99.
- Longest-running competitions
Elizabeth and Kelly were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #74 and #2006.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Elizabeth #26 in 1996, Kelly #74 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1969–2023
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Kelly in 9.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #5 in 1969, Kelly #35 in 1994.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Elizabeth #106, Kelly #404.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Kelly in 0.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #26 in 1996, Kelly #74 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elizabeth #74, Kelly #2006.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls30 shared years, 1964–1995
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Kelly in 10.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #14 in 1967, Kelly #6 in 1979.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Elizabeth #24, Kelly #99.
New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1970–1998
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Kelly in 15.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #14 in 1984, Kelly #3 in 1978.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Elizabeth #54, Kelly #89.
Norway · Girls28 shared years, 1967–2019
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Kelly in 2.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #176 in 1979, Kelly #380 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Elizabeth #299, Kelly #479.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2021
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Kelly in 0.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #55 in 1997, Kelly #101 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Elizabeth #116, Kelly #446.
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 | Elizabeth | Kelly |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From the Greek Elisabet, from Hebrew Elisheva, combining 'el' (God) with 'shava' ('oath') — 'my God is an oath'. Appears in the Old Testament as Elisheba, Aaron's wife, and in the New Testament as the mother of John the Baptist. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ɪ.ˈlɪz.ə.bəθ/ | |
| Syllables | 4 | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #74 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2006 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Elizabeth has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Kelly does not have one recorded yet.
- Elizabeth has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Kelly.
- A meaning is recorded for Elizabeth; Kelly doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Elizabeth
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #341 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1969 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #74 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Kelly
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1970–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1978 (recorded 1970–1998).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2006 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls