Kelly vs Kim
Kelly and Kimcompared 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 1985, Kelly was ranked #14 and Kim #78 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1984, Kelly was ranked #25 and Kim #80 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Kelly was ranked #268 and Kim #451 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2003, Kelly was ranked #499 and Kim #460 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Kelly was ranked #634 and Kim #634 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Kelly was ranked #2006 and Kim #3333 among girls in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2013, Kelly was ranked #2660 and Kim #3822 among boys in England and Wales.
Kelly and Kim over time
Kelly and Kim appear together in 6 published lists, across 150 years of shared records. Kelly held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kim in 2.
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.
Kim reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Kelly 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 1977, Kelly moved ahead of Kim in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #19 and #18 the year before became #11 and #23.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kelly and Kim changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1997 and 2013, ending at #2660 and #3822.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kelly and Kim averaged 31.8 places apart, ending at #25 and #80.
- Longest-running competitions
Kelly and Kim were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2006 and #3333.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kelly #74 in 1996, Kim #382 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1969–2022
Kelly held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Kim in 10.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #35 in 1994, Kim #64 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Kelly #634, Kim #634.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Kelly held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Kim in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #74 in 1996, Kim #382 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kelly #2006, Kim #3333.
Norway · Girls22 shared years, 1967–2003
Kelly held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Kim in 20.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #380 in 1997, Kim #205 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Kelly #499, Kim #460.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls20 shared years, 1964–1984
Kelly held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Kim in 10.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #6 in 1979, Kim #6 in 1967.
The order changed in 1977: Kelly moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #19 and #18; by 1977 that had become #11 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Kelly #25, Kim #80.
New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 1970–1985
Kelly held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Kim in 3.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #3 in 1978, Kim #12 in 1970.
The order changed in 1976: Kelly moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #20 and #18; by 1976 that had become #22 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Kelly #14, Kim #78.
England and Wales · Boys12 shared years, 1997–2013
Kelly held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Kim in 7.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #1454 in 1997, Kim #1174 in 1997.
The order changed in 2010: Kelly moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #2837 and #2544; by 2010 that had become #2629 and #3865.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Kelly #2660, Kim #3822.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Kelly
Pairs where Kelly shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Kelly vs Phoebe
In 1996 they stood at #74 and #65 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #2006 and #14.
Kelly · Phoebe · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Kelly vs Daisy
In 1996 they stood at #74 and #71 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #2006 and #18.
Kelly · Daisy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Kelly vs Rosie
In 1996 they stood at #74 and #69 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #2006 and #24.
Kelly · Rosie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Kelly vs Robyn
In 1996 they stood at #74 and #80 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #2006 and #76.
Kelly · Robyn · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Kim
Pairs where Kim shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Adrian vs Kim
Over 61 shared years in Norway · Boys, Adrian rose about as far as Kim fell — from #449 and #167 in 1958 to #62 and #370 in 2023.
Adrian · Kim · 61 shared years, 1958–2023 · Mirrored each other
- Kim vs Markus
Over 60 shared years in Norway · Boys, Markus rose about as far as Kim fell — from #201 and #406 in 1956 to #370 and #57 in 2023.
Kim · Markus · 60 shared years, 1956–2023 · Mirrored each other
- Kim vs Jonathan
Over 59 shared years in Norway · Boys, Jonathan rose about as far as Kim fell — from #167 and #428 in 1958 to #370 and #80 in 2023.
Kim · Jonathan · 59 shared years, 1958–2023 · Mirrored each other
- Kim vs Marcus
Over 58 shared years in Norway · Boys, Marcus rose about as far as Kim fell — from #205 and #399 in 1963 to #370 and #129 in 2023.
Kim · Marcus · 58 shared years, 1963–2023 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Kelly | Kim |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | Used for both boys and girls |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2006 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #3333 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kelly has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Kim.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Kelly
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1970–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1978 (recorded 1970–1998).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2006 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Kim
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #344 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1958–1985
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1958–1985).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3333 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls