Kathleen vs Kerry
Kathleen and Kerrycompared 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 · Girls
In 1976, Kathleen was ranked #71 and Kerry #97 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1977, Kathleen was ranked #89 and Kerry #85 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Kathleen was ranked #333 and Kerry #397 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Kathleen was ranked #336 and Kerry #834 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Kathleen was ranked #1036 and Kerry #4843 among girls in England and Wales.
Kathleen and Kerry over time
Kathleen and Kerry appear together in 5 published lists, across 130 years of shared records. Kathleen held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kerry in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Kathleen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Kerry 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 1974, Kathleen moved ahead of Kerry in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #76 and #68 the year before became #78 and #83.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kathleen and Kerry changed places 7 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1952 and 1976, ending at #71 and #97.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kathleen and Kerry averaged 13.2 places apart, ending at #71 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Kathleen and Kerry were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 46 years, from 1968 to 2020, ending at #336 and #834.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kathleen #227 in 1996, Kerry #136 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1968–2020
Kathleen held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Kerry in 1.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #25 in 1968, Kerry #149 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Kathleen #336, Kerry #834.
England and Wales · Girls25 shared years, 1996–2024
Kathleen held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Kerry in 10.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #227 in 1996, Kerry #136 in 1996.
The order changed in 2008: Kathleen moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #578 and #527; by 2008 that had become #650 and #972.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kathleen #1036, Kerry #4843.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1952–1976
Kathleen held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Kerry in 18.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #29 in 1952, Kerry #11 in 1956.
The order changed in 1974: Kathleen moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #76 and #68; by 1974 that had become #78 and #83.
Most recent shared year, 1976: Kathleen #71, Kerry #97.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1997–2020
Kathleen held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Kerry in 11.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #112 in 1997, Kerry #82 in 2002.
The order changed in 2013: Kathleen moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #311 and #246; by 2013 that had become #284 and #370.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Kathleen #333, Kerry #397.
New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 1956–1977
Kathleen held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Kerry in 3.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #34 in 1956, Kerry #53 in 1960.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1977: Kathleen #89, Kerry #85.
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 | Kathleen | Kerry |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | 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 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4843 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Kathleen and Kerry both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Kathleen
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #29 among girls 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 · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Kerry
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #23 among girls 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 · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1976
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1956 (recorded 1952–1976).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4843 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls