Kenneth vs Raymond
Kenneth and Raymondcompared 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 Raymond #78 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1977, Kenneth was ranked #99 and Raymond #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2008, Kenneth was ranked #309 and Raymond #487 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2007, Kenneth was ranked #315 and Raymond #357 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #785 and Raymond #430 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #968 and Raymond #545 among boys in England and Wales.
Kenneth and Raymond over time
Kenneth and Raymond appear together in 5 published lists, across 196 years of shared records. Raymond held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Kenneth in 1.
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.
Raymond reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Kenneth 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 1965, Raymond moved ahead of Kenneth in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #34 and #43 the year before became #49 and #46.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kenneth and Raymond changed places 6 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #968 and #545.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Kenneth and Raymond averaged 8.0 places apart, ending at #99 and #84.
- Longest-running competitions
Kenneth and Raymond were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 61 years, from 1945 to 2008, ending at #309 and #487.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Kenneth #345 in 1996, Raymond #312 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys61 shared years, 1945–2008
Kenneth held the stronger position in 60 of those years, Raymond in 1.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #10 in 1979, Raymond #60 in 1978.
The order changed in 1946: Kenneth moved ahead. In 1945 they stood at #303 and #265; by 1946 that had become #275 and #299.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Kenneth #309, Raymond #487.
Republic of Ireland · Boys59 shared years, 1964–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Raymond in 32.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #26 in 1972, Raymond #29 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #785, Raymond #430.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Raymond in 22.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #345 in 1996, Raymond #312 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #968, Raymond #545.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys26 shared years, 1952–1977
Kenneth held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Raymond in 15.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #16 in 1952, Raymond #17 in 1952.
The order changed in 1965: Raymond moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #34 and #43; by 1965 that had become #49 and #46.
Most recent shared year, 1977: Kenneth #99, Raymond #84.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1981
Kenneth held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Raymond in 11.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #28 in 1954, Raymond #28 in 1955.
The order changed in 1968: Raymond moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #55 and #63; by 1968 that had become #80 and #62.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Kenneth #88, Raymond #78.
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 | Raymond |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (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); Raymond does not have one recorded yet.
- Kenneth and Raymond both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kenneth; Raymond 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
Raymond
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #265 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1991
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1991).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys