Jennifer vs Kayla
Jennifer and Kaylacompared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 2003, Jennifer was ranked #84 and Kayla #39 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2003, Jennifer was ranked #88 and Kayla #53 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Jennifer was ranked #413 and Kayla #130 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Jennifer was ranked #384 and Kayla #171 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Jennifer was ranked #354 and Kayla #243 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Jennifer was ranked #650 and Kayla #386 among girls in England and Wales.
Jennifer and Kayla over time
Jennifer and Kayla appear together in 5 published lists, across 119 years of shared records. Kayla held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jennifer in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Jennifer reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Kayla 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Kayla moved into the top 50 at #20 in 1991 as Jennifer fell out of it to #62, having been #41 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1990, Kayla moved ahead of Jennifer in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #31 and #53 the year before became #33 and #28.
- Longest-running competitions
Jennifer and Kayla were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #650 and #386.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls33 shared years, 1991–2025
Jennifer held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Kayla in 20.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #13 in 1991, Kayla #21 in 2011.
The order changed in 2006: Kayla moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #63 and #67; by 2006 that had become #72 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jennifer #413, Kayla #130.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jennifer held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Kayla in 13.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #54 in 1996, Kayla #98 in 2011.
The order changed in 2019: Kayla moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #303 and #323; by 2019 that had become #355 and #329.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jennifer #650, Kayla #386.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1998–2022
Jennifer held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Kayla in 14.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #64 in 2002, Kayla #40 in 2011.
The order changed in 2005: Kayla moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #108 and #169; by 2005 that had become #99 and #89.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Jennifer #354, Kayla #243.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 1985–2003
Jennifer held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Kayla in 14.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #19 in 1985, Kayla #28 in 1990.
The order changed in 1990: Kayla moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #31 and #53; by 1990 that had become #33 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Jennifer #88, Kayla #53.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1986–2003
Jennifer held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Kayla in 12.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #24 in 1986, Kayla #18 in 1992.
The order changed in 1991: Kayla moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #41 and #89; by 1991 that had become #62 and #20.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Jennifer #84, Kayla #39.
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 | Jennifer | Kayla |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From a Cornish form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere), combining 'gwyn' and 'hwyfar'. Confined mainly to Cornwall until George Bernard Shaw's 1906 play The Doctor's Dilemma sparked wider adoption. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Welsh, via Cornish transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ɪ.fəɹ/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #130 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jennifer has a recorded origin (Welsh, via Cornish transmission); Kayla does not have one recorded yet.
- Jennifer has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Kayla.
- A meaning is recorded for Jennifer; Kayla doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Jennifer
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #331 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1956 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #650 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Kayla
Popularity journey
First recorded1985
First recorded at #68 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1985 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1986–2014
Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in New Zealand, in 1992 (recorded 1986–2014).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #386 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls