Fabian vs Kenneth
Fabian 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2021, Fabian was ranked #166 and Kenneth #475 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2007, Fabian was ranked #357 and Kenneth #315 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Fabian was ranked #520 and Kenneth #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Fabian was ranked #549 and Kenneth #1007 among boys in England and Wales.
Fabian and Kenneth over time
Fabian and Kenneth appear together in 3 published lists, across 114 years of shared records. Kenneth held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Fabian 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 3 of those lists, and Fabian 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 2000, Fabian moved ahead of Kenneth in Norway · Boys — #146 and #139 the year before became #157 and #159.
- Longest-running competitions
Fabian and Kenneth were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #549 and #1007.
List by list
Norway · Boys47 shared years, 1971–2021
Fabian held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Kenneth in 25.
Highest recorded here: Fabian #110 in 2005, Kenneth #10 in 1979.
The order changed in 2000: Fabian moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #146 and #139; by 2000 that had become #157 and #159.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Fabian #166, Kenneth #475.
Republic of Ireland · Boys37 shared years, 1967–2024
Fabian held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Kenneth in 21.
Highest recorded here: Fabian #214 in 2017, Kenneth #26 in 1972.
The order changed in 2009: Fabian moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #317 and #317; by 2009 that had become #247 and #292.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fabian #520, Kenneth #785.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Fabian held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Kenneth in 6.
Highest recorded here: Fabian #266 in 2013, Kenneth #345 in 1996.
The order changed in 2003: Fabian moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #436 and #411; by 2003 that had become #371 and #633.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fabian #549, Kenneth #1007.
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 | Fabian | 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, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #223 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #1007 (2025) |
| 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); Fabian does not have one recorded yet.
- Fabian and Kenneth both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kenneth; Fabian doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Fabian
Popularity journey
First recorded1967
First recorded at #265 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1967 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1971–2025
Highest recorded position: #110 among boys in Norway, in 2005 (recorded 1971–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #549 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1007 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys