Kayla vs Kelsey
Kayla and Kelseycompared 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 1999, Kayla was ranked #45 and Kelsey #92 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Kayla was ranked #130 and Kelsey #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Kayla was ranked #171 and Kelsey #638 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Kayla was ranked #243 and Kelsey #418 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Kayla was ranked #386 and Kelsey #1271 among girls in England and Wales.
Kayla and Kelsey over time
Kayla and Kelsey appear together in 4 published lists, across 94 years of shared records. Kayla held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Kelsey in 0.
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.
Kelsey reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2008, Kayla moved ahead of Kelsey in England and Wales · Girls — #154 and #142 the year before became #141 and #164.
- Mirrored each other
Over 33 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Kayla rose about as far as Kelsey fell — from #515 and #338 in 1991 to #130 and #544 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Kayla and Kelsey were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #386 and #1271.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Kayla #18 in 1992, Kelsey #48 in 1991.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls33 shared years, 1991–2025
Kayla held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Kelsey in 8.
Highest recorded here: Kayla #21 in 2011, Kelsey #116 in 1998.
The order changed in 2002: Kayla moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #180 and #131; by 2002 that had become #112 and #146.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kayla #130, Kelsey #544.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Kayla held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Kelsey in 12.
Highest recorded here: Kayla #98 in 2011, Kelsey #87 in 1998.
The order changed in 2008: Kayla moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #154 and #142; by 2008 that had become #141 and #164.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kayla #386, Kelsey #1271.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1998–2022
Kayla held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Kelsey in 5.
Highest recorded here: Kayla #40 in 2011, Kelsey #114 in 2006.
The order changed in 2005: Kayla moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #169 and #169; by 2005 that had become #89 and #148.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Kayla #243, Kelsey #418.
New Zealand · Girls10 shared years, 1989–1999
Kayla held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Kelsey in 1.
Highest recorded here: Kayla #18 in 1992, Kelsey #48 in 1991.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Kayla #45, Kelsey #92.
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 | Kayla | Kelsey |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #130 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #544 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kayla and Kelsey both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
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
Kelsey
Popularity journey
First recorded1989
First recorded at #80 among girls in New Zealand in 1989 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1989–1999
Highest recorded position: #48 among girls in New Zealand, in 1991 (recorded 1989–1999).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1271 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls