Kenneth vs Robert
Kenneth and Robertcompared 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 1977, Kenneth was ranked #99 and Robert #15 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1981, Kenneth was ranked #88 and Robert #17 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2007, Kenneth was ranked #315 and Robert #42 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #535 and Robert #80 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #785 and Robert #97 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #968 and Robert #151 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2021, Kenneth was ranked #475 and Robert #348 among boys in Norway.
Kenneth and Robert over time
Kenneth and Robert appear together in 5 published lists, across 212 years of shared records. Robert held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Kenneth in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 Robert changed places 8 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2021, ending at #475 and #348.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Kenneth and Robert averaged 44.1 places apart, ending at #99 and #15.
- Longest-running competitions
Kenneth and Robert were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 76 years, from 1945 to 2021, ending at #475 and #348.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Kenneth #345 in 1996, Robert #30 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys76 shared years, 1945–2021
Kenneth held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Robert in 42.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #10 in 1979, Robert #25 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Kenneth #475, Robert #348.
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 60.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #26 in 1972, Robert #12 in 1978.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #785, Robert #97.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 29.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #345 in 1996, Robert #30 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #968, Robert #151.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys26 shared years, 1952–1977
Kenneth held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 26.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #16 in 1952, Robert #3 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1977: Kenneth #99, Robert #15.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1981
Kenneth held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 21.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #28 in 1954, Robert #5 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Kenneth #88, Robert #17.
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 | Robert |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | From Germanic Hrodebert, combining 'hruod' (fame) with 'beraht' (bright) — 'bright fame'. Introduced to Britain by the Normans, later borne by Robert the Bruce. |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɛn.əθ/ | /ˈɹɑb.əɹt/ |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #535 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #104 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kenneth is recorded with a Scottish Gaelic origin, while Robert is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Kenneth and Robert both have 2 syllables.
- Kenneth's recorded meaning differs from Robert's — see the table above for each.
- 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 recent2024
Most recently recorded at #968 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Robert
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #126 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #363 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys