Kelly vs Saoirse
Kelly and Saoirsecompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Kelly was ranked #404 and Saoirse #27 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Kelly was ranked #446 and Saoirse #49 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Kelly was ranked #790 and Saoirse #196 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Kelly was ranked #2006 and Saoirse #402 among girls in England and Wales.
Kelly and Saoirse over time
Kelly and Saoirse appear together in 3 published lists, across 97 years of shared records. Saoirse held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Kelly 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.
Kelly reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Saoirse 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 Republic of Ireland · Girls, Saoirse moved into the top 50 at #37 in 1998 as Kelly fell out of it to #53, having been #38 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1999, Saoirse moved ahead of Kelly in Northern Ireland · Girls — #187 and #301 the year before became #154 and #132.
- Longest-running competitions
Kelly and Saoirse were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2006 and #402.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1971–2023
Kelly held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Saoirse in 26.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #35 in 1994, Saoirse #12 in 2016.
The order changed in 1998: Saoirse moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #38 and #44; by 1998 that had become #53 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Kelly #404, Saoirse #27.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Kelly held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Saoirse in 14.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #74 in 1996, Saoirse #307 in 2020.
The order changed in 2013: Saoirse moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #701 and #738; by 2013 that had become #854 and #515.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kelly #2006, Saoirse #402.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2021
Kelly held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Saoirse in 15.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #101 in 1997, Saoirse #41 in 2019.
The order changed in 1999: Saoirse moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #187 and #301; by 1999 that had become #154 and #132.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Kelly #446, Saoirse #49.
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 | Kelly | Saoirse |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Means 'freedom' in Irish; first adopted as a given name in the 20th century, reportedly with nationalist/political resonance given the meaning. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ˈsˠiːɾˠʃə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2006 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #17 (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
- Saoirse has a recorded origin (Irish); Kelly does not have one recorded yet.
- Kelly and Saoirse both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Saoirse; Kelly doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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
Saoirse
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #417 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1971–2025
Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2016 (recorded 1971–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #402 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls