Keith vs Ronald
Keith and Ronaldcompared 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 · Boys
In 1969, Keith was ranked #97 and Ronald #65 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1966, Keith was ranked #88 and Ronald #81 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Keith was ranked #354 and Ronald #718 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Keith was ranked #3688 and Ronald #796 among boys in England and Wales.
Keith and Ronald over time
Keith and Ronald appear together in 4 published lists, across 94 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 1965, Ronald moved ahead of Keith in New Zealand · Boys — #70 and #79 the year before became #81 and #80.
- Longest-running competitions
Keith and Ronald were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 34 years, from 1964 to 2012, ending at #354 and #718.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Keith #40 in 1952, Ronald #24 in 1952.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #96 and #89 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2012 they were #354 and #718.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys34 shared years, 1964–2012
Keith held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Ronald in 1.
Highest recorded here: Keith #17 in 1975, Ronald #89 in 1964.
The order changed in 1965: Keith moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #96 and #89; by 1965 that had become #83 and #103.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Keith #354, Ronald #718.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Keith held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Ronald in 20.
Highest recorded here: Keith #379 in 1996, Ronald #564 in 2018.
The order changed in 2005: Ronald moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #667 and #906; by 2005 that had become #827 and #788.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Keith #3688, Ronald #796.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys18 shared years, 1952–1969
Keith held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ronald in 18.
Highest recorded here: Keith #40 in 1952, Ronald #24 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Keith #97, Ronald #65.
New Zealand · Boys13 shared years, 1954–1966
Keith held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Ronald in 2.
Highest recorded here: Keith #33 in 1954, Ronald #36 in 1954.
The order changed in 1965: Ronald moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #70 and #79; by 1965 that had become #81 and #80.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Keith #88, Ronald #81.
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 | Ronald |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #577 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #619 (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 Ronald.
- 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
Ronald
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #202 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1972
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1972).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #796 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys