Jonathan vs Kenneth
Jonathan 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 Zealand · Boys
In 1981, Jonathan was ranked #19 and Kenneth #88 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1977, Jonathan was ranked #65 and Kenneth #99 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2021, Jonathan was ranked #71 and Kenneth #475 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2007, Jonathan was ranked #73 and Kenneth #315 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #187 and Kenneth #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #302 and Kenneth #968 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #352 and Kenneth #535 among boys in Scotland.
Jonathan and Kenneth over time
Jonathan and Kenneth appear together in 5 published lists, across 181 years of shared records. Kenneth held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Jonathan in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 4 of those lists, and Jonathan 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 1971, Jonathan moved ahead of Kenneth in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #81 and #67 the year before became #71 and #75.
- Mirrored each other
Over 60 shared years in Norway · Boys, Jonathan rose about as far as Kenneth fell — from #371 and #225 in 1949 to #71 and #475 in 2021.
- Longest-running competitions
Jonathan and Kenneth were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 60 years, from 1949 to 2021, ending at #71 and #475.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jonathan #39 in 1996, Kenneth #345 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys60 shared years, 1949–2021
Jonathan held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Kenneth in 36.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #32 in 2011, Kenneth #10 in 1979.
The order changed in 1998: Jonathan moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #86 and #84; by 1998 that had become #79 and #98.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Jonathan #71, Kenneth #475.
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2024
Jonathan held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Kenneth in 14.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #18 in 1981, Kenneth #26 in 1972.
The order changed in 1978: Jonathan moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #48 and #38; by 1978 that had become #33 and #38.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #187, Kenneth #785.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jonathan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Kenneth in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #39 in 1996, Kenneth #345 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #302, Kenneth #968.
New Zealand · Boys17 shared years, 1957–1981
Jonathan held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Kenneth in 10.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #18 in 1980, Kenneth #32 in 1957.
The order changed in 1968: Jonathan moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #72 and #55; by 1968 that had become #58 and #80.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Jonathan #19, Kenneth #88.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys15 shared years, 1963–1977
Jonathan held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Kenneth in 8.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #65 in 1977, Kenneth #34 in 1964.
The order changed in 1971: Jonathan moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #81 and #67; by 1971 that had become #71 and #75.
Most recent shared year, 1977: Jonathan #65, Kenneth #99.
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 | Jonathan | 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 | 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #535 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 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); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
- Jonathan has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Kenneth.
- A meaning is recorded for Kenneth; Jonathan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Jonathan
Popularity journey
First recorded1949
First recorded at #371 among boys in Norway in 1949 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1957–2013
Highest recorded position: #15 among boys in New Zealand, in 1982 (recorded 1957–2013).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #93 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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