Kenneth vs Russell
Kenneth and Russellcompared 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 Russell #90 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1972, Kenneth was ranked #100 and Russell #99 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2001, Kenneth was ranked #280 and Russell #192 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #535 and Russell #727 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Kenneth was ranked #572 and Russell #657 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #968 and Russell #1460 among boys in England and Wales.
Kenneth and Russell over time
Kenneth and Russell appear together in 4 published lists, across 116 years of shared records. Kenneth held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Russell 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 3 of those lists, and Russell 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 1974, Russell moved ahead of Kenneth in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #81 and #85 the year before became #99 and #90.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kenneth and Russell changed places 15 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #968 and #1460.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Kenneth and Russell averaged 19.5 places apart, ending at #99 and #90.
- Longest-running competitions
Kenneth and Russell were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 44 years, from 1964 to 2022, ending at #572 and #657.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Kenneth #345 in 1996, Russell #257 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys44 shared years, 1964–2022
Kenneth held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Russell in 3.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #26 in 1972, Russell #205 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Kenneth #572, Russell #657.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Russell in 16.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #345 in 1996, Russell #257 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Kenneth moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #1207 and #1018; by 2024 that had become #968 and #1460.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #968, Russell #1460.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys25 shared years, 1952–1977
Kenneth held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Russell in 4.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #16 in 1952, Russell #46 in 1958.
The order changed in 1974: Russell moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #81 and #85; by 1974 that had become #99 and #90.
Most recent shared year, 1977: Kenneth #99, Russell #90.
New Zealand · Boys18 shared years, 1954–1972
Kenneth held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Russell in 6.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #28 in 1954, Russell #37 in 1959.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Kenneth #100, Russell #99.
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
Side by side
| Field | Kenneth | Russell |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #535 (2024) | Scotland · Boys #727 (2024) |
| 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); Russell does not have one recorded yet.
- Kenneth and Russell both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kenneth; Russell doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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
Russell
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #49 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 recorded1954–1979
Highest recorded position: #37 among boys in New Zealand, in 1959 (recorded 1954–1979).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1460 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys