Kelly vs Patricia
Kelly and Patricia compared 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 1978, Kelly was ranked #3 and Patricia #85 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1984, Kelly was ranked #25 and Patricia #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Kelly was ranked #363 and Patricia #444 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Kelly was ranked #404 and Patricia #404 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2007, Kelly was ranked #607 and Patricia #534 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Kelly was ranked #2006 and Patricia #1407 among girls in England and Wales.
Kelly and Patricia over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Kelly and Patricia over time
Kelly and Patricia appear together in 4 published lists, across 123 years of shared records. Kelly held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Patricia 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.
Patricia reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kelly moved into the top 50 at #34 in 1969 as Patricia fell out of it to #52, having been #38 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1969, Kelly moved ahead of Patricia in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #44 and #38 the year before became #34 and #52.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kelly and Patricia changed places 7 times in Norway · Girls between 1967 and 2007, ending at #607 and #534.
- Longest-running competitions
Kelly and Patricia were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2006 and #1407.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kelly #74 in 1996, Patricia #443 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1969–2023
Kelly held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Patricia in 22.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #35 in 1994, Patricia #9 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Kelly #404, Patricia #404.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Kelly held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Patricia in 12.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #74 in 1996, Patricia #443 in 1996.
The order changed in 2014: Patricia moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #854 and #900; by 2014 that had become #877 and #779.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kelly #2006, Patricia #1407.
Norway · Girls23 shared years, 1967–2007
Kelly held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Patricia in 16.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #380 in 1997, Patricia #289 in 1979.
The order changed in 2007: Patricia moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #435 and #467; by 2007 that had become #607 and #534.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Kelly #607, Patricia #534.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls16 shared years, 1964–1984
Kelly held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Patricia in 4.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #6 in 1979, Patricia #31 in 1964.
The order changed in 1969: Kelly moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #44 and #38; by 1969 that had become #34 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Kelly #25, Patricia #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.
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 Patricia
Pairs where Patricia shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Patricia vs Pauline
In 1964 they stood at #10 and #12 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2018 they were #361 and #896.
Patricia · Pauline · 45 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Elizabeth vs Patricia
In 1964 they stood at #6 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #76 and #608.
Elizabeth · Patricia · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Margaret vs Patricia
In 1964 they stood at #3 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #135 and #608.
Margaret · Patricia · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Patricia vs Bridget
In 1964 they stood at #10 and #8 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #213.
Patricia · Bridget · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.
- Sean vs Adam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Adam moved into the top 50 at #9 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Adam · 61 shared years, 1965–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Charlie vs Oisin
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Oisin fell out of it to #247, having been #11 the year before.
Charlie · Oisin · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Charlie
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Charlie · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Liam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Liam moved into the top 50 at #11 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Liam · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists
Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Thomas vs Edward
Over 70 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Edward fell — from #44 and #48 in 1952 to #13 and #75 in 2025.
Thomas · Edward · 70 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alexander vs Edward
Over 67 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Edward fell — from #80 and #48 in 1952 to #22 and #75 in 2025.
Alexander · Edward · 67 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Thomas vs Andrew
Over 63 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #44 and #51 in 1952 to #8 and #89 in 2016.
Thomas · Andrew · 63 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
- Andrew vs Alexander
Over 60 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #51 and #80 in 1952 to #89 and #9 in 2016.
Andrew · Alexander · 60 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 1980s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1980 and 1989.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Kelly | Patricia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | ||
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2006 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kelly has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Patricia.
- 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
Patricia
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #385 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1978
Highest recorded position: #7 among girls in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1978).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1407 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls