Kathleen vs Kylie
Kathleen and Kyliecompared 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 1984, Kathleen was ranked #100 and Kylie #23 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1989, Kathleen was ranked #98 and Kylie #82 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Kathleen was ranked #336 and Kylie #336 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Kathleen was ranked #352 and Kylie #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Kathleen was ranked #997 and Kylie #1110 among girls in England and Wales.
Kathleen and Kylie over time
Kathleen and Kylie appear together in 3 published lists, across 78 years of shared records. Kathleen held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Kylie in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one 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 3 of those lists, and Kylie 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kylie moved into the top 50 at #31 in 1968 as Kathleen fell out of it to #60, having been #48 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1968, Kylie moved ahead of Kathleen in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #48 and #56 the year before became #60 and #31.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kathleen and Kylie averaged 58.6 places apart, ending at #98 and #82.
- Longest-running competitions
Kathleen and Kylie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #997 and #1110.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kathleen #227 in 1996, Kylie #349 in 1998.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Kathleen held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Kylie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #227 in 1996, Kylie #349 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kathleen #997, Kylie #1110.
Republic of Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1987–2025
Kathleen held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Kylie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #63 in 1988, Kylie #250 in 1989.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kathleen #352, Kylie #413.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 1965–1989
Kathleen held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Kylie in 19.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #42 in 1966, Kylie #2 in 1971.
The order changed in 1968: Kylie moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #48 and #56; by 1968 that had become #60 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 1989: Kathleen #98, Kylie #82.
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 | Kylie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Emerged in Australia, reportedly meaning 'boomerang' in the Nyungar Aboriginal language; alternatively read as a feminine form of Kyle or a blend of the phonetic elements 'ky' and 'lee'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Nyungar (Australian Aboriginal), disputed alternative readings |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkaɪ.li/ | |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kylie has a recorded origin (Nyungar (Australian Aboriginal), disputed alternative readings); Kathleen does not have one recorded yet.
- Kathleen and Kylie both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kylie; Kathleen doesn't have one written yet.
- 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 #997 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Kylie
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1965–1989
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1971 (recorded 1965–1989).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1110 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls