Kenneth vs Samir
Kenneth and Samircompared 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2021, Kenneth was ranked #475 and Samir #410 among boys in Norway.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #535 and Samir #619 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Kenneth was ranked #755 and Samir #552 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #968 and Samir #898 among boys in England and Wales.
Kenneth and Samir over time
Kenneth and Samir appear together in 3 published lists, across 95 years of shared records. Kenneth held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Samir 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.
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 Samir changed places 9 times in Norway · Boys between 1957 and 2021, ending at #475 and #410.
- Longest-running competitions
Kenneth and Samir were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 56 years, from 1957 to 2021, ending at #475 and #410.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Kenneth #184 in 2003, Samir #423 in 2003.
List by list
Norway · Boys56 shared years, 1957–2021
Kenneth held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Samir in 6.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #10 in 1979, Samir #275 in 1964.
The order changed in 2019: Samir moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #397 and #431; by 2019 that had become #506 and #412.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Kenneth #475, Samir #410.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Samir in 23.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #345 in 1996, Samir #328 in 2004.
The order changed in 2018: Samir moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #1021 and #1042; by 2018 that had become #1324 and #763.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #968, Samir #898.
Republic of Ireland · Boys10 shared years, 2003–2021
Kenneth held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Samir in 3.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #184 in 2003, Samir #423 in 2003.
The order changed in 2020: Samir moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #369 and #749; by 2020 that had become #637 and #637.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Kenneth #755, Samir #552.
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 | Samir |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #535 (2024) | Norway · Boys #518 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kenneth has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic); Samir does not have one recorded yet.
- Kenneth and Samir both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kenneth; Samir doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
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
Samir
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #445 among boys in Norway in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1957–2025
Highest recorded position: #275 among boys in Norway, in 1964 (recorded 1957–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #518 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys