Kenneth vs Leon
Kenneth and Leoncompared 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2021, Kenneth was ranked #475 and Leon #36 among boys in Norway.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #535 and Leon #56 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #785 and Leon #60 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1977, Kenneth was ranked #88 and Leon #91 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #968 and Leon #100 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2007, Kenneth was ranked #315 and Leon #120 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Kenneth and Leon over time
Kenneth and Leon appear together in 3 published lists, across 148 years of shared records. Leon held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Kenneth in 1.
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.
Kenneth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Leon 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 2000, Leon moved ahead of Kenneth in Norway · Boys — #139 and #190 the year before became #159 and #147.
- Mirrored each other
Over 64 shared years in Norway · Boys, Leon rose about as far as Kenneth fell — from #303 and #306 in 1945 to #475 and #36 in 2021.
- Longest-running competitions
Kenneth and Leon were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 64 years, from 1945 to 2021, ending at #475 and #36.
List by list
Norway · Boys64 shared years, 1945–2021
Kenneth held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Leon in 22.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #10 in 1979, Leon #13 in 2014.
The order changed in 2000: Leon moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #139 and #190; by 2000 that had become #159 and #147.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Kenneth #475, Leon #36.
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1968–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Leon in 28.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #26 in 1972, Leon #44 in 2008.
The order changed in 1996: Leon moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #108 and #127; by 1996 that had become #115 and #86.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #785, Leon #60.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Leon in 29.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #345 in 1996, Leon #60 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #968, Leon #100.
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 | Kenneth | Leon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | An Anglicized form of both Coinneach and Cináed, of Scottish Gaelic origin. Borne by the Scottish king Kenneth mac Alpin, who united the Scots and Picts in the 9th century. | From Greek λέων (leon), meaning 'lion'. Merged with the Latin cognate Leo during the Christian era, making the two forms largely interchangeable across Europe; also used among medieval English Jews. |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɛn.əθ/ | /ˈleː.ɔn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Leo |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #535 (2024) | Norway · Boys #46 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Kenneth is recorded with a Scottish Gaelic origin, while Leon is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Kenneth has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Leon.
- Kenneth's recorded meaning differs from Leon's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Kenneth a "medium" Data Confidence level and Leon a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Kenneth
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #303 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2021
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in Norway, in 1979 (recorded 1945–2021).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #968 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Leon
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #306 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #13 among boys in Norway, in 2014 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #53 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys