Kelvin vs Malcolm
Kelvin and Malcolmcompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1963, Kelvin was ranked #99 and Malcolm #62 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1973, Kelvin was ranked #96 and Malcolm #86 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 1997, Kelvin was ranked #210 and Malcolm #271 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Kelvin was ranked #779 and Malcolm #572 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kelvin was ranked #1460 and Malcolm #1162 among boys in England and Wales.
Kelvin and Malcolm over time
Kelvin and Malcolm appear together in 3 published lists, across 77 years of shared records. Kelvin held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Malcolm in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Malcolm reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Kelvin 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kelvin and Malcolm changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1973, ending at #96 and #86.
- Longest-running competitions
Kelvin and Malcolm were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 32 years, from 1972 to 2022, ending at #779 and #572.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Kelvin #360 in 1997, Malcolm #472 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys32 shared years, 1972–2022
Kelvin held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Malcolm in 13.
Highest recorded here: Kelvin #154 in 1998, Malcolm #131 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Kelvin #779, Malcolm #572.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kelvin held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Malcolm in 7.
Highest recorded here: Kelvin #360 in 1997, Malcolm #472 in 1996.
The order changed in 2018: Malcolm moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #968 and #1042; by 2018 that had become #1683 and #1158.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kelvin #1460, Malcolm #1162.
New Zealand · Boys16 shared years, 1954–1973
Kelvin held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Malcolm in 14.
Highest recorded here: Kelvin #78 in 1968, Malcolm #45 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1973: Kelvin #96, Malcolm #86.
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 | Kelvin | Malcolm |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Traditionally interpreted as 'disciple' or 'servant of Saint Columba'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised), from Mael Coluim |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmælkəm/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #1460 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Malcolm has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised), from Mael Coluim); Kelvin does not have one recorded yet.
- Kelvin and Malcolm both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Malcolm; Kelvin doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Kelvin
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #100 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1974
Highest recorded position: #78 among boys in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1954–1974).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1460 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Malcolm
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #52 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1976
Highest recorded position: #45 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1958 (recorded 1952–1976).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys