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Kenneth vs Philip

Kenneth and Philip 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 Zealand · Boys

    In 1981, Kenneth was ranked #88 and Philip #53 among boys in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 1977, Kenneth was ranked #99 and Philip #68 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2021, Kenneth was ranked #475 and Philip #89 among boys in Norway.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2007, Kenneth was ranked #315 and Philip #149 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #785 and Philip #327 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #535 and Philip #619 among boys in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Kenneth was ranked #1007 and Philip #549 among boys in England and Wales.

Kenneth and Philip over time

Norway · Boys
#10#30#100#30019482021Kenneth #475Philip #891948: Kenneth #185, Philip #3411949: Kenneth #225, Philip #3591953: Kenneth #185, Philip #3461954: Kenneth #152, Philip #3911957: Kenneth #149, Philip #4421958: Kenneth #137, Philip #3401960: Kenneth #112, Philip #3631961: Kenneth #121, Philip #4921962: Kenneth #101, Philip #4661963: Kenneth #95, Philip #4941965: Kenneth #79, Philip #3871966: Kenneth #72, Philip #3671967: Kenneth #60, Philip #3271969: Kenneth #49, Philip #4551970: Kenneth #40, Philip #5061971: Kenneth #27, Philip #4251972: Kenneth #26, Philip #3541973: Kenneth #24, Philip #3951974: Kenneth #17, Philip #3381975: Kenneth #19, Philip #5021976: Kenneth #17, Philip #3081977: Kenneth #12, Philip #3451978: Kenneth #12, Philip #4591979: Kenneth #10, Philip #2971980: Kenneth #15, Philip #2901981: Kenneth #16, Philip #3181982: Kenneth #15, Philip #2461983: Kenneth #17, Philip #2471984: Kenneth #15, Philip #2371985: Kenneth #18, Philip #2361986: Kenneth #18, Philip #3001987: Kenneth #18, Philip #1711988: Kenneth #25, Philip #1941989: Kenneth #28, Philip #1931990: Kenneth #27, Philip #1561991: Kenneth #33, Philip #1731992: Kenneth #39, Philip #1801993: Kenneth #48, Philip #1581994: Kenneth #58, Philip #1381995: Kenneth #77, Philip #1761996: Kenneth #72, Philip #1191997: Kenneth #84, Philip #1161998: Kenneth #98, Philip #1101999: Kenneth #139, Philip #1012000: Kenneth #159, Philip #982001: Kenneth #158, Philip #862002: Kenneth #188, Philip #782003: Kenneth #160, Philip #802004: Kenneth #190, Philip #712005: Kenneth #183, Philip #742006: Kenneth #230, Philip #792007: Kenneth #287, Philip #692008: Kenneth #309, Philip #862009: Kenneth #310, Philip #772010: Kenneth #451, Philip #772011: Kenneth #389, Philip #842012: Kenneth #417, Philip #912013: Kenneth #344, Philip #682014: Kenneth #467, Philip #882015: Kenneth #462, Philip #742016: Kenneth #390, Philip #782017: Kenneth #506, Philip #772018: Kenneth #397, Philip #692019: Kenneth #506, Philip #832020: Kenneth #404, Philip #942021: Kenneth #475, Philip #89

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.

Republic of Ireland · Boys
#30#100#30019642024Kenneth #785Philip #3271964: Kenneth #41, Philip #361965: Kenneth #40, Philip #371966: Kenneth #39, Philip #341967: Kenneth #34, Philip #351968: Kenneth #30, Philip #331969: Kenneth #28, Philip #371970: Kenneth #33, Philip #411971: Kenneth #31, Philip #331972: Kenneth #26, Philip #421973: Kenneth #31, Philip #401974: Kenneth #26, Philip #421975: Kenneth #30, Philip #371976: Kenneth #31, Philip #401977: Kenneth #38, Philip #361978: Kenneth #38, Philip #301979: Kenneth #46, Philip #331980: Kenneth #41, Philip #361981: Kenneth #44, Philip #381982: Kenneth #48, Philip #391983: Kenneth #53, Philip #381984: Kenneth #50, Philip #431985: Kenneth #51, Philip #391986: Kenneth #65, Philip #391987: Kenneth #60, Philip #381988: Kenneth #63, Philip #411989: Kenneth #70, Philip #361990: Kenneth #75, Philip #421991: Kenneth #81, Philip #421992: Kenneth #80, Philip #491993: Kenneth #115, Philip #501994: Kenneth #119, Philip #521995: Kenneth #108, Philip #521996: Kenneth #115, Philip #641997: Kenneth #133, Philip #681998: Kenneth #130, Philip #871999: Kenneth #167, Philip #782000: Kenneth #173, Philip #742001: Kenneth #201, Philip #972002: Kenneth #180, Philip #1192003: Kenneth #184, Philip #1122004: Kenneth #263, Philip #1252005: Kenneth #191, Philip #1292006: Kenneth #314, Philip #1012007: Kenneth #299, Philip #1292008: Kenneth #317, Philip #1262009: Kenneth #292, Philip #1402010: Kenneth #422, Philip #1522011: Kenneth #387, Philip #1872012: Kenneth #718, Philip #1412013: Kenneth #605, Philip #1472014: Kenneth #715, Philip #1472015: Kenneth #615, Philip #1612016: Kenneth #448, Philip #1592017: Kenneth #495, Philip #1622018: Kenneth #369, Philip #1872019: Kenneth #646, Philip #2142020: Kenneth #637, Philip #1932021: Kenneth #755, Philip #2152022: Kenneth #572, Philip #2512024: Kenneth #785, Philip #327

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 Philip over time

Kenneth and Philip appear together in 5 published lists, across 203 years of shared records. Philip held the stronger position in more years in 4 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 4 of those lists, and Philip 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 1965, Philip moved ahead of Kenneth in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #34 and #40 the year before became #49 and #39.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Kenneth and Philip changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1977, ending at #99 and #68.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Kenneth and Philip averaged 12.2 places apart, ending at #99 and #68.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Kenneth and Philip were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1007 and #549.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Kenneth #345 in 1996, Philip #103 in 1996.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1964 they stood at #41 and #36 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #785 and #327.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys66 shared years, 1948–2021

    Kenneth held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Philip in 23.

    Highest recorded here: Kenneth #10 in 1979, Philip #68 in 2013.

    The order changed in 1999: Philip moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #98 and #110; by 1999 that had become #139 and #101.

    Most recent shared year, 2021: Kenneth #475, Philip #89.

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

    Kenneth held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Philip in 50.

    Highest recorded here: Kenneth #26 in 1972, Philip #30 in 1978.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #785, Philip #327.

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

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

    Highest recorded here: Kenneth #345 in 1996, Philip #103 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Kenneth #1007, Philip #549.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys26 shared years, 1952–1977

    Kenneth held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Philip in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Kenneth #16 in 1952, Philip #29 in 1958.

    The order changed in 1965: Philip moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #34 and #40; by 1965 that had become #49 and #39.

    Most recent shared year, 1977: Kenneth #99, Philip #68.

  • New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1981

    Kenneth held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Philip in 19.

    Highest recorded here: Kenneth #28 in 1954, Philip #20 in 1963.

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

    Most recent shared year, 1981: Kenneth #88, Philip #53.

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 Philip

Pairs where Philip 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, Philip
FieldKennethPhilip
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
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageNew South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New ZealandNew South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Boys #1007 (2025)Norway · Boys #91 (2025)
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Kenneth has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic); Philip does not have one recorded yet.
  • Kenneth and Philip both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Kenneth; Philip 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

  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

Philip

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1948

    First recorded at #341 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1954–1992

    Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in New Zealand, in 1963 (recorded 1954–1992).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #549 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys