Kenneth vs Phillip
Kenneth and Phillipcompared 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 Phillip #40 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1977, Kenneth was ranked #99 and Phillip #41 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2021, Kenneth was ranked #475 and Phillip #157 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2001, Kenneth was ranked #280 and Phillip #192 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #785 and Phillip #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #968 and Phillip #1460 among boys in England and Wales.
Kenneth and Phillip over time
Kenneth and Phillip appear together in 5 published lists, across 158 years of shared records. Phillip held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kenneth in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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, Phillip 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1961, Phillip moved ahead of Kenneth in New Zealand · Boys — #37 and #41 the year before became #42 and #41.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kenneth and Phillip changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #968 and #1460.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Kenneth and Phillip averaged 23.7 places apart, ending at #99 and #41.
- Longest-running competitions
Kenneth and Phillip were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 39 years, from 1972 to 2021, ending at #475 and #157.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Kenneth #345 in 1996, Phillip #180 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1964–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Phillip in 1.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #26 in 1972, Phillip #122 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #785, Phillip #785.
Norway · Boys39 shared years, 1972–2021
Kenneth held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Phillip in 17.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #12 in 1977, Phillip #116 in 2013.
The order changed in 2005: Phillip moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #190 and #205; by 2005 that had become #183 and #175.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Kenneth #475, Phillip #157.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Phillip in 24.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #345 in 1996, Phillip #180 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Kenneth moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #1207 and #1139; by 2024 that had become #968 and #1460.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #968, Phillip #1460.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys26 shared years, 1952–1977
Kenneth held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Phillip in 26.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #16 in 1952, Phillip #14 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1977: Kenneth #99, Phillip #41.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1981
Kenneth held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Phillip in 14.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #28 in 1954, Phillip #35 in 1966.
The order changed in 1961: Phillip moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #37 and #41; by 1961 that had become #42 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Kenneth #88, Phillip #40.
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 | Phillip |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #535 (2024) | Norway · Boys #268 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kenneth has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic); Phillip does not have one recorded yet.
- Kenneth and Phillip both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kenneth; Phillip doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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 recent2024
Most recently recorded at #968 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Phillip
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #14 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 recorded1952–1994
Highest recorded position: #14 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1994).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #268 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys