Kai vs Oscar
Kai and Oscar compared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Kai was ranked #78 and Oscar #8 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Kai was ranked #23 and Oscar #17 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kai was ranked #56 and Oscar #22 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Kai was ranked #34 and Oscar #31 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Kai was ranked #69 and Oscar #34 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Kai was ranked #282 and Oscar #51 among boys in Norway.
Kai and Oscar over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Kai and Oscar over time
Kai and Oscar appear together in 5 published lists, across 181 years of shared records. Oscar held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Kai 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.
Kai reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Oscar in 2. 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 2007, Oscar moved ahead of Kai in Northern Ireland · Boys — #137 and #180 the year before became #123 and #115.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kai and Oscar changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #78 and #8.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Kai and Oscar averaged 44.7 places apart, ending at #78 and #8.
- Longest-running competitions
Kai and Oscar were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #78 and #8.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Kai #20 in 2023, Oscar #17 in 2025.
List by list
Norway · Boys75 shared years, 1945–2025
Kai held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Oscar in 34.
Highest recorded here: Kai #57 in 1976, Oscar #35 in 2013.
The order changed in 1992: Oscar moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #177 and #260; by 1992 that had become #232 and #166.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kai #282, Oscar #51.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Kai held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Oscar in 25.
Highest recorded here: Kai #56 in 2003, Oscar #7 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kai #78, Oscar #8.
Republic of Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2025
Kai held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Oscar in 26.
Highest recorded here: Kai #30 in 2024, Oscar #30 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kai #34, Oscar #31.
Northern Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 1999–2024
Kai held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Oscar in 18.
Highest recorded here: Kai #52 in 2021, Oscar #24 in 2014.
The order changed in 2007: Oscar moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #137 and #180; by 2007 that had become #123 and #115.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kai #69, Oscar #34.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys23 shared years, 2002–2025
Kai held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Oscar in 20.
Highest recorded here: Kai #20 in 2023, Oscar #17 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kai #23, Oscar #17.
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 Kai
Pairs where Kai shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Aksel vs Kai
Aksel and Kai were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #25 and #282.
Aksel · Kai · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Anders vs Kai
Anders and Kai were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #293 and #282.
Anders · Kai · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Andreas vs Kai
Andreas and Kai were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #96 and #282.
Andreas · Kai · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Arne vs Kai
Arne and Kai were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #222 and #282.
Arne · Kai · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Other comparisons involving Oscar
Pairs where Oscar shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Oscar vs Taylor
In 1996 they stood at #128 and #121 in England and Wales · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #8 and #507.
Oscar · Taylor · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oscar vs Hayden
In 1996 they stood at #128 and #124 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #8 and #314.
Oscar · Hayden · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Morten vs Oscar
Over 75 shared years in Norway · Boys, Oscar rose about as far as Morten fell — from #107 and #263 in 1945 to #214 and #51 in 2025.
Morten · Oscar · 75 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Peter vs Oscar
Over 75 shared years in Norway · Boys, Oscar rose about as far as Peter fell — from #106 and #263 in 1945 to #174 and #51 in 2025.
Peter · Oscar · 75 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.
- Christopher vs Paul
Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Leo
Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Luca
Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Amelia vs Sofia
Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Kai | Oscar |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Possibly 'deer friend' (Irish), or possibly derived from an Old English/Old Norse name meaning 'god spear' — the origin is genuinely disputed. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Disputed — possibly Irish, possibly Old English/Old Norse |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɑskər/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #23 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #8 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Oscar has a recorded origin (Disputed — possibly Irish, possibly Old English/Old Norse); Kai does not have one recorded yet.
- Kai has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Oscar.
- A meaning is recorded for Oscar; Kai doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Kai
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #76 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded2002–2025
Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 2002–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Oscar
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #263 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in England and Wales, in 2013 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #8 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys