Keith vs Leslie
Keith and Lesliecompared 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 · Boys
In 1967, Keith was ranked #81 and Leslie #98 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1968, Keith was ranked #87 and Leslie #99 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2003, Keith was ranked #90 and Leslie #500 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Keith was ranked #3688 and Leslie #2263 among boys in England and Wales.
Keith and Leslie over time
Keith and Leslie appear together in 4 published lists, across 81 years of shared records. Keith held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Leslie in 1.
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.
Leslie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Keith 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 1966, Keith moved ahead of Leslie in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #77 and #74 the year before became #86 and #87.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Keith and Leslie changed places 9 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1968, ending at #87 and #99.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Keith #379 in 1996, Leslie #552 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #96 and #91 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2003 they were #90 and #500.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys26 shared years, 1996–2024
Keith held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Leslie in 1.
Highest recorded here: Keith #379 in 1996, Leslie #552 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Leslie moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #3451 and #3990; by 2024 that had become #3688 and #2263.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Keith #3688, Leslie #2263.
Republic of Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1964–2003
Keith held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Leslie in 1.
Highest recorded here: Keith #17 in 1975, Leslie #91 in 1964.
The order changed in 1965: Keith moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #96 and #91; by 1965 that had become #83 and #113.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Keith #90, Leslie #500.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys17 shared years, 1952–1968
Keith held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Leslie in 9.
Highest recorded here: Keith #40 in 1952, Leslie #37 in 1952.
The order changed in 1966: Keith moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #77 and #74; by 1966 that had become #86 and #87.
Most recent shared year, 1968: Keith #87, Leslie #99.
New Zealand · Boys12 shared years, 1954–1967
Keith held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Leslie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Keith #33 in 1954, Leslie #52 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1967: Keith #81, Leslie #98.
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 | Keith | Leslie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #577 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #2263 (2024) |
| 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
- Keith has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Leslie.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Keith
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #40 among boys 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 · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1975 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Leslie
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #37 among boys 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 · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1968
Highest recorded position: #37 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1968).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2263 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys