Gregory vs Kenneth
Gregory 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, Gregory was ranked #31 and Kenneth #99 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1981, Gregory was ranked #51 and Kenneth #88 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2000, Gregory was ranked #206 and Kenneth #277 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Gregory was ranked #727 and Kenneth #535 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Gregory was ranked #785 and Kenneth #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Gregory was ranked #1460 and Kenneth #968 among boys in England and Wales.
Gregory and Kenneth over time
Gregory and Kenneth appear together in 4 published lists, across 134 years of shared records. Gregory held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kenneth in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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, Gregory 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 1957, Gregory moved ahead of Kenneth in New Zealand · Boys — #31 and #29 the year before became #30 and #32.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gregory and Kenneth changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1460 and #968.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Gregory and Kenneth averaged 37.7 places apart, ending at #31 and #99.
- Longest-running competitions
Gregory and Kenneth were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 58 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #785 and #785.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Gregory #117 in 1997, Kenneth #345 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys58 shared years, 1964–2024
Gregory held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Kenneth in 48.
Highest recorded here: Gregory #72 in 1967, Kenneth #26 in 1972.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gregory #785, Kenneth #785.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gregory held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Kenneth in 2.
Highest recorded here: Gregory #117 in 1997, Kenneth #345 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Kenneth moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #1071 and #1207; by 2024 that had become #1460 and #968.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gregory #1460, Kenneth #968.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys26 shared years, 1952–1977
Gregory held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Kenneth in 0.
Highest recorded here: Gregory #7 in 1954, Kenneth #16 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1977: Gregory #31, Kenneth #99.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1981
Gregory held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Kenneth in 3.
Highest recorded here: Gregory #16 in 1960, Kenneth #28 in 1954.
The order changed in 1957: Gregory moved ahead. In 1956 they stood at #31 and #29; by 1957 that had become #30 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Gregory #51, 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 | Gregory | Kenneth |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Latin Gregorius, from Late Greek Gregorios, from 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), itself from 'egeiro' ('to awaken'). Borne by Saint Gregory the Illuminator and Pope Gregory I the Great. | 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 | From Late Greek 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), via the Latin Gregorius | Scottish Gaelic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɡɹɛɡ.ə.ɹi/ | /ˈkɛn.əθ/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, 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 #829 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #535 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gregory is recorded with a From Late Greek 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), via the Latin Gregorius origin, while Kenneth is recorded with a Scottish Gaelic origin.
- Gregory has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Kenneth.
- Gregory's recorded meaning differs from Kenneth's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Gregory
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #9 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 recorded1952–1990
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–1990).
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