Keith vs William
Keith and Williamcompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Keith was ranked #3688 and William #27 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1967, Keith was ranked #81 and William #27 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2010, Keith was ranked #339 and William #36 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1969, Keith was ranked #97 and William #40 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Keith was ranked #577 and William #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Keith and William over time
Keith and William appear together in 5 published lists, across 132 years of shared records. William held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Keith in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Keith and William changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #577 and #73.
- Longest-running competitions
Keith and William were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 59 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #577 and #73.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Keith #40 in 1952, William #12 in 1952.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys59 shared years, 1964–2025
Keith held the stronger position in 3 of those years, William in 56.
Highest recorded here: Keith #17 in 1975, William #8 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Keith #577, William #73.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Keith held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 29.
Highest recorded here: Keith #379 in 1996, William #7 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Keith #3688, William #27.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys18 shared years, 1952–1969
Keith held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 18.
Highest recorded here: Keith #40 in 1952, William #12 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Keith #97, William #40.
New Zealand · Boys14 shared years, 1954–1967
Keith held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 14.
Highest recorded here: Keith #33 in 1954, William #11 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1967: Keith #81, William #27.
Northern Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 1997–2010
Keith held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 12.
Highest recorded here: Keith #143 in 1997, William #26 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Keith #339, William #36.
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 | William |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'resolute protector' or 'will helmet', combining the ideas of desire/will and protection. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈwɪljəm/ |
| 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-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #577 (2025) | Norway · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- William has a recorded origin (Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm)); Keith does not have one recorded yet.
- Keith has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for William.
- A meaning is recorded for William; Keith 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
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
William
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #277 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2009 (recorded 1952–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys