Kealan vs Tadhg
Kealan and Tadhgcompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Kealan was ranked #509 and Tadhg #8 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Kealan was ranked #433 and Tadhg #120 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kealan was ranked #3688 and Tadhg #406 among boys in England and Wales.
Kealan and Tadhg over time
Kealan and Tadhg appear together in 3 published lists, across 86 years of shared records. Tadhg held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kealan in 0.
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.
Kealan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Tadhg 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kealan and Tadhg changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #3688 and #406.
- Mirrored each other
Over 46 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Tadhg rose about as far as Kealan fell — from #316 and #232 in 1976 to #509 and #8 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Kealan and Tadhg were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 46 years, from 1976 to 2025, ending at #509 and #8.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys46 shared years, 1976–2025
Kealan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Tadhg in 46.
Highest recorded here: Kealan #168 in 1997, Tadhg #6 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kealan #509, Tadhg #8.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kealan held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Tadhg in 24.
Highest recorded here: Kealan #845 in 1997, Tadhg #406 in 2024.
The order changed in 2010: Tadhg moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #1568 and #1749; by 2010 that had become #3332 and #1551.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kealan #3688, Tadhg #406.
Northern Ireland · Boys11 shared years, 2001–2021
Kealan held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Tadhg in 8.
Highest recorded here: Kealan #173 in 2001, Tadhg #120 in 2021.
The order changed in 2016: Tadhg moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #281 and #346; by 2016 that had become #421 and #232.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Kealan #433, Tadhg #120.
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 | Kealan | Tadhg |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Traditionally interpreted as 'poet'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈtˠəiɡ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #8 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Tadhg has a recorded origin (Irish); Kealan does not have one recorded yet.
- Kealan has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Tadhg.
- A meaning is recorded for Tadhg; Kealan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Kealan
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #316 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1976–2025
Highest recorded position: #168 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1976–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Tadhg
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #222 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1965–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1965–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #8 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys