Kenneth vs Noel
Kenneth and Noel compared 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1964, Kenneth was ranked #34 and Noel #91 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1963, Kenneth was ranked #54 and Noel #94 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2021, Kenneth was ranked #475 and Noel #162 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2007, Kenneth was ranked #315 and Noel #357 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #785 and Noel #394 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #535 and Noel #619 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Kenneth was ranked #1007 and Noel #593 among boys in England and Wales.
Kenneth and Noel over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Kenneth and Noel over time
Kenneth and Noel appear together in 5 published lists, across 135 years of shared records. Noel held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kenneth in 2.
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, Noel in 1. 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 Noel changed places 20 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2024, ending at #785 and #394.
- Longest-running competitions
Kenneth and Noel were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1007 and #593.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Kenneth #16 in 1952, Noel #54 in 1953.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Noel in 47.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #26 in 1972, Noel #19 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #785, Noel #394.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Kenneth held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Noel in 21.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #345 in 1996, Noel #372 in 2015.
The order changed in 2005: Noel moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #576 and #599; by 2005 that had become #512 and #506.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kenneth #1007, Noel #593.
Norway · Boys22 shared years, 1994–2021
Kenneth held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Noel in 12.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #58 in 1994, Noel #138 in 2018.
The order changed in 2010: Noel moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #310 and #370; by 2010 that had become #451 and #288.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Kenneth #475, Noel #162.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys13 shared years, 1952–1964
Kenneth held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Noel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #16 in 1952, Noel #54 in 1953.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1964: Kenneth #34, Noel #91.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 1954–1963
Kenneth held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Noel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #28 in 1954, Noel #63 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1963: Kenneth #54, Noel #94.
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.
- Andrew vs Kenneth
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #41 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2024 they were #106 and #785.
Andrew · Kenneth · 60 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sean vs Kenneth
In 1964 they stood at #38 and #41 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #123 and #785.
Sean · Kenneth · 60 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Kenneth vs Niall
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2024 they were #785 and #174.
Kenneth · Niall · 60 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Kenneth vs Philip
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #36 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #785 and #327.
Kenneth · Philip · 60 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Noel
Pairs where Noel shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Daniel vs Noel
In 1964 they stood at #19 and #20 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #402.
Daniel · Noel · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Joseph vs Noel
In 1964 they stood at #11 and #20 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #64 and #402.
Joseph · Noel · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Mark vs Noel
In 1964 they stood at #28 and #20 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #99 and #402.
Mark · Noel · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Robert vs Noel
In 1964 they stood at #22 and #20 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #104 and #402.
Robert · Noel · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — repeatedly exchanged positions.
- Frank vs Vidar
Frank and Vidar changed places 36 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #459 and #478.
Frank · Vidar · 77 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Helge vs Rolf
Helge and Rolf changed places 35 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #352 and #437.
Helge · Rolf · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Stein vs Arild
Stein and Arild changed places 34 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2014, ending at #452 and #408.
Stein · Arild · 67 shared years, 1945–2014 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Inger vs Kari
Inger and Kari changed places 33 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #292 and #222.
Inger · Kari · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
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.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Kenneth | Noel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #1007 (2025) | Norway · Boys #139 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kenneth has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic); Noel does not have one recorded yet.
- Kenneth has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Noel.
- A meaning is recorded for Kenneth; Noel doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
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 recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1007 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Noel
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #56 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #19 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1966 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #593 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys