Kenneth vs Matt
Kenneth and Mattcompared 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 Matt #236 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Kenneth was ranked #572 and Matt #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #968 and Matt #5119 among boys in England and Wales.
Kenneth and Matt over time
Kenneth and Matt appear together in 2 published lists, across 51 years of shared records. Kenneth held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Matt in 0.
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.
Kenneth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Matt 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 Matt changed places 6 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #968 and #5119.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Kenneth #345 in 1996, Matt #362 in 1998.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Matt in 2.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #345 in 1996, Matt #362 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #968, Matt #5119.
Republic of Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1994–2022
Kenneth held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Matt in 9.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #119 in 1994, Matt #268 in 2005.
The order changed in 2019: Matt moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #369 and #520; by 2019 that had become #646 and #438.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Kenneth #572, Matt #509.
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 | Matt |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #535 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (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); Matt does not have one recorded yet.
- Kenneth has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Matt.
- A meaning is recorded for Kenneth; Matt doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
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
Matt
Popularity journey
First recorded1994
First recorded at #342 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1994 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2005–2017
Highest recorded position: #236 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2007 (recorded 2005–2017).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys