Graham vs Kennedy
Graham and Kennedycompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2016, Graham was ranked #541 and Kennedy #713 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Graham was ranked #2952 and Kennedy #4275 among boys in England and Wales.
Graham and Kennedy over time
Graham and Kennedy appear together in 1 published list, across 30 years of shared records. Graham held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Kennedy in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Graham reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Kennedy 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
Graham and Kennedy changed places 12 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #2952 and #4275.
- Longest-running competitions
Graham and Kennedy were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2952 and #4275.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Graham #341 in 1996, Kennedy #1257 in 1997.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Graham held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Kennedy in 3.
Highest recorded here: Graham #341 in 1996, Kennedy #1257 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Graham #2952, Kennedy #4275.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Graham
Pairs where Graham shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Benjamin vs Graham
In 1964 they stood at #139 and #129 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #71 and #770.
Benjamin · Graham · 54 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Samuel vs Graham
In 1964 they stood at #119 and #129 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #90 and #770.
Samuel · Graham · 54 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jude vs Graham
In 1965 they stood at #129 and #137 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2023 they were #95 and #770.
Jude · Graham · 44 shared years, 1965–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Graham vs Marcus
In 1964 they stood at #129 and #136 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2023 they were #770 and #172.
Graham · Marcus · 54 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Graham | Kennedy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | Used for both boys and girls |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #2952 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Graham has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Kennedy.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Graham
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #20 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 recorded1952–1979
Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1979).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2952 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Kennedy
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #375 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1998–2022
Highest recorded position: #351 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1998 (recorded 1998–2022).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1584 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls