Kenneth vs Muhammad
Kenneth and Muhammadcompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #968 and Muhammad #1 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #535 and Muhammad #2 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #785 and Muhammad #45 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2021, Kenneth was ranked #475 and Muhammad #102 among boys in Norway.
Kenneth and Muhammad over time
Kenneth and Muhammad appear together in 3 published lists, across 132 years of shared records. Muhammad 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 Muhammad 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 2006, Muhammad moved ahead of Kenneth in Norway · Boys — #183 and #199 the year before became #230 and #173.
- Mirrored each other
Over 72 shared years in Norway · Boys, Muhammad rose about as far as Kenneth fell — from #275 and #319 in 1946 to #475 and #102 in 2021.
- Longest-running competitions
Kenneth and Muhammad were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 72 years, from 1946 to 2021, ending at #475 and #102.
List by list
Norway · Boys72 shared years, 1946–2021
Kenneth held the stronger position in 56 of those years, Muhammad in 16.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #10 in 1979, Muhammad #83 in 2015.
The order changed in 2006: Muhammad moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #183 and #199; by 2006 that had become #230 and #173.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Kenneth #475, Muhammad #102.
Republic of Ireland · Boys31 shared years, 1992–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Muhammad in 20.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #80 in 1992, Muhammad #45 in 2024.
The order changed in 2004: Muhammad moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #184 and #187; by 2004 that had become #263 and #171.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #785, Muhammad #45.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Muhammad in 29.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #345 in 1996, Muhammad #1 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #968, Muhammad #1.
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 | Muhammad |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Praiseworthy, commendable. |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic | Arabic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɛn.əθ/ | /muˈħammad/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Mohammed, Mohammad, Mehmed |
| 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) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #21 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 76/100 |
| 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 Muhammad is recorded with a Arabic origin.
- Kenneth has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Muhammad.
- Kenneth's recorded meaning differs from Muhammad's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Kenneth a "medium" Data Confidence level and Muhammad 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
Muhammad
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #319 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in England and Wales, in 2023 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #21 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys