Glenn vs Kenneth
Glenn 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1977, Glenn was ranked #50 and Kenneth #99 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1981, Glenn was ranked #85 and Kenneth #88 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2007, Glenn was ranked #276 and Kenneth #315 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2012, Glenn was ranked #545 and Kenneth #417 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Glenn was ranked #582 and Kenneth #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Glenn was ranked #5119 and Kenneth #968 among boys in England and Wales.
Glenn and Kenneth over time
Glenn and Kenneth appear together in 5 published lists, across 189 years of shared records. Kenneth held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Glenn 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.
Kenneth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Glenn 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 1959, Glenn moved ahead of Kenneth in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #31 and #27 the year before became #29 and #35.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Glenn and Kenneth changed places 11 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2024, ending at #582 and #785.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Glenn and Kenneth averaged 28.3 places apart, ending at #50 and #99.
- Longest-running competitions
Glenn and Kenneth were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 61 years, from 1948 to 2012, ending at #545 and #417.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Glenn #278 in 1996, Kenneth #345 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys61 shared years, 1948–2012
Glenn held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kenneth in 61.
Highest recorded here: Glenn #57 in 1974, Kenneth #10 in 1979.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Glenn #545, Kenneth #417.
Republic of Ireland · Boys54 shared years, 1964–2024
Glenn held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Kenneth in 38.
Highest recorded here: Glenn #92 in 1992, Kenneth #26 in 1972.
The order changed in 2024: Glenn moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #741 and #637; by 2024 that had become #582 and #785.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Glenn #582, Kenneth #785.
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1996–2024
Glenn held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Kenneth in 24.
Highest recorded here: Glenn #278 in 1996, Kenneth #345 in 1996.
The order changed in 1998: Kenneth moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #323 and #348; by 1998 that had become #369 and #369.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Glenn #5119, Kenneth #968.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys26 shared years, 1952–1977
Glenn held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Kenneth in 7.
Highest recorded here: Glenn #16 in 1962, Kenneth #16 in 1952.
The order changed in 1959: Glenn moved ahead. In 1958 they stood at #31 and #27; by 1959 that had become #29 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 1977: Glenn #50, Kenneth #99.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1981
Glenn held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Kenneth in 9.
Highest recorded here: Glenn #32 in 1970, Kenneth #28 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Glenn #85, Kenneth #88.
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 | Glenn | 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 | 1 | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (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); Glenn does not have one recorded yet.
- Glenn has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Kenneth.
- A meaning is recorded for Kenneth; Glenn 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
Glenn
Popularity journey
First recorded1948
First recorded at #329 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1986
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1962 (recorded 1952–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 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