Namewise

Kelsey vs Kimberley

Kelsey and Kimberleycompared 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, Kelsey was ranked #69 and Kimberley #89 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2016, Kelsey was ranked #353 and Kimberley #440 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Kelsey was ranked #504 and Kimberley #736 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Kelsey was ranked #1271 and Kimberley #2138 among girls in England and Wales.

Kelsey and Kimberley over time

Kelsey and Kimberley appear together in 4 published lists, across 81 years of shared records. Kelsey held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kimberley 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.

Kimberley reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Kelsey in 1. 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.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Kelsey and Kimberley changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1271 and #2138.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Kelsey and Kimberley were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1271 and #2138.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kelsey #87 in 1998, Kimberley #73 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls32 shared years, 19892024

    Kelsey held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Kimberley in 3.

    Highest recorded here: Kelsey #121 in 1997, Kimberley #221 in 1990.

    The order changed in 1992: Kelsey moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #338 and #224; by 1992 that had become #249 and #363.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Kelsey #504, Kimberley #736.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 19962025

    Kelsey held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Kimberley in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Kelsey #87 in 1998, Kimberley #73 in 1996.

    The order changed in 2022: Kelsey moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #1402 and #1311; by 2022 that had become #1326 and #1452.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Kelsey #1271, Kimberley #2138.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 19992016

    Kelsey held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Kimberley in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Kelsey #114 in 2006, Kimberley #245 in 2007.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2016: Kelsey #353, Kimberley #440.

  • New Zealand · Girls9 shared years, 19891997

    Kelsey held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Kimberley in 7.

    Highest recorded here: Kelsey #48 in 1991, Kimberley #27 in 1990.

    The order changed in 1996: Kelsey moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #77 and #72; by 1996 that had become #75 and #83.

    Most recent shared year, 1997: Kelsey #69, Kimberley #89.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Kelsey, Kimberley
FieldKelseyKimberley
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Official statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
OriginNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
PronunciationNot yet recorded
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #544 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #2138 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recordedNot yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10070/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Kelsey has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Kimberley.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Kelsey

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1989

    First recorded at #80 among girls in New Zealand in 1989 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New Zealand · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1989–1999

    Highest recorded position: #48 among girls in New Zealand, in 1991 (recorded 1989–1999).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1271 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Kimberley

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1981

    First recorded at #60 among girls in New Zealand in 1981 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New Zealand · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1981–1997

    Highest recorded position: #27 among girls in New Zealand, in 1990 (recorded 1981–1997).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2138 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls