Namewise

Kelly vs Lisa

Kelly and Lisacompared 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 1997, Kelly was ranked #70 and Lisa #85 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1995, Kelly was ranked #99 and Lisa #79 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2019, Kelly was ranked #479 and Lisa #180 among girls in Norway.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2023, Kelly was ranked #404 and Lisa #316 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2019, Kelly was ranked #424 and Lisa #336 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Kelly was ranked #2006 and Lisa #661 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Kelly was ranked #790 and Lisa #790 among girls in Scotland.

Kelly and Lisa over time

Kelly and Lisa appear together in 6 published lists, across 184 years of shared records. Lisa held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Kelly 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.

Lisa 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 1995, Kelly moved ahead of Lisa in New Zealand · Girls — #77 and #74 the year before became #52 and #71.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Kelly and Lisa changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #2006 and #661.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kelly and Lisa averaged 24.9 places apart, ending at #99 and #79.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Kelly and Lisa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2006 and #661.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kelly #74 in 1996, Lisa #105 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1969–2023

    Kelly held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Lisa in 48.

    Highest recorded here: Kelly #35 in 1994, Lisa #3 in 1984.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Kelly #404, Lisa #316.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Kelly held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Lisa in 19.

    Highest recorded here: Kelly #74 in 1996, Lisa #105 in 1996.

    The order changed in 2009: Lisa moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #436 and #462; by 2009 that had become #438 and #417.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Kelly #2006, Lisa #661.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls30 shared years, 1964–1995

    Kelly held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Lisa in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Kelly #6 in 1979, Lisa #2 in 1968.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1995: Kelly #99, Lisa #79.

  • New Zealand · Girls28 shared years, 1970–1997

    Kelly held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Lisa in 19.

    Highest recorded here: Kelly #3 in 1978, Lisa #1 in 1970.

    The order changed in 1995: Kelly moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #77 and #74; by 1995 that had become #52 and #71.

    Most recent shared year, 1997: Kelly #70, Lisa #85.

  • Norway · Girls28 shared years, 1967–2019

    Kelly held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lisa in 28.

    Highest recorded here: Kelly #380 in 1997, Lisa #37 in 1994.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2019: Kelly #479, Lisa #180.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 1997–2019

    Kelly held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Lisa in 9.

    Highest recorded here: Kelly #101 in 1997, Lisa #63 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2019: Kelly #424, Lisa #336.

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.

Other comparisons involving Lisa

Pairs where Lisa shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.

All closest over the longest run→

Other pairs from New Zealand lists

Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New Zealand overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 1990s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1990 and 1999.

The 1990s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Kelly, Lisa
FieldKellyLisa
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedA short form of Elizabeth, often used independently — notably the name of the subject of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa.
OriginNot yet recordedHebrew, short form of Elizabeth
Pronunciation/ˈliː.sə/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Girls #2006 (2025)Norway · Girls #174 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Lisa has a recorded origin (Hebrew, short form of Elizabeth); Kelly does not have one recorded yet.
  • Kelly and Lisa both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Lisa; Kelly doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.

How each name got here

Kelly

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1970–1998

    Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1978 (recorded 1970–1998).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2006 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Lisa

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #330 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1962–1997

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1962–1997).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #661 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls