Namewise

Kenneth vs Niall

Kenneth and Niallcompared 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 Niall #60 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #785 and Niall #174 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #535 and Niall #246 among boys in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Kenneth was ranked #1007 and Niall #745 among boys in England and Wales.

Kenneth and Niall over time

Kenneth and Niall appear together in 2 published lists, across 90 years of shared records. Niall held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Kenneth 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 1 of those lists, and Niall 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 1972, Niall moved ahead of Kenneth in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #31 and #35 the year before became #26 and #24.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Kenneth and Niall changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2024, ending at #785 and #174.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Kenneth and Niall were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1007 and #745.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Kenneth #345 in 1996, Niall #106 in 1996.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1964 they stood at #41 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2024 they were #785 and #174.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2024

    Kenneth held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Niall in 54.

    Highest recorded here: Kenneth #26 in 1972, Niall #16 in 1991.

    The order changed in 1972: Niall moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #31 and #35; by 1972 that had become #26 and #24.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #785, Niall #174.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Kenneth held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Niall in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Kenneth #345 in 1996, Niall #106 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Kenneth #1007, Niall #745.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Kenneth

Pairs where Kenneth shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Niall

Pairs where Niall shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Kenneth, Niall
FieldKennethNiall
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningAn 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
OriginScottish GaelicNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈkɛn.əθ/Not yet recorded
Syllables21
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Boys #1007 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #244 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Kenneth has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic); Niall does not have one recorded yet.
  • Kenneth has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Niall.
  • A meaning is recorded for Kenneth; Niall doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.

How each name got here

Kenneth

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1945–2021

    Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in Norway, in 1979 (recorded 1945–2021).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1007 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Niall

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #47 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1991 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #745 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys