Kenneth vs Marc
Kenneth and Marccompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2007, Kenneth was ranked #315 and Marc #209 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2009, Kenneth was ranked #310 and Marc #521 among boys in Norway.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #535 and Marc #478 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #785 and Marc #582 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #968 and Marc #1025 among boys in England and Wales.
Kenneth and Marc over time
Kenneth and Marc appear together in 3 published lists, across 119 years of shared records. Kenneth held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Marc 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 2 of those lists, and Marc 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
Kenneth and Marc changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #968 and #1025.
- Longest-running competitions
Kenneth and Marc were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 31 years, from 1966 to 2009, ending at #310 and #521.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Kenneth #345 in 1996, Marc #169 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys59 shared years, 1965–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Marc in 24.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #26 in 1972, Marc #117 in 1989.
The order changed in 2024: Marc moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #572 and #779; by 2024 that had become #785 and #582.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #785, Marc #582.
Norway · Boys31 shared years, 1966–2009
Kenneth held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Marc in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #10 in 1979, Marc #380 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Kenneth #310, Marc #521.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Marc in 24.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #345 in 1996, Marc #169 in 1996.
The order changed in 2023: Kenneth moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #1179 and #1011; by 2023 that had become #1207 and #1799.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #968, Marc #1025.
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 | Marc |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| 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. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɛn.əθ/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #535 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kenneth has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic); Marc does not have one recorded yet.
- Kenneth has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Marc.
- A meaning is recorded for Kenneth; Marc doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
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
Marc
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #250 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2023
Highest recorded position: #73 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 1998 (recorded 1997–2023).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys