Kenneth vs Saul
Kenneth and Saulcompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2007, Kenneth was ranked #315 and Saul #222 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #535 and Saul #352 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #785 and Saul #655 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #968 and Saul #1402 among boys in England and Wales.
Kenneth and Saul over time
Kenneth and Saul appear together in 2 published lists, across 53 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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 2 of those lists, and Saul 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Saul in 27.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #345 in 1996, Saul #241 in 2000.
The order changed in 2024: Kenneth moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #1207 and #987; by 2024 that had become #968 and #1402.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #968, Saul #1402.
Republic of Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1992–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Saul in 6.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #80 in 1992, Saul #249 in 2002.
The order changed in 2019: Saul moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #369 and #471; by 2019 that had become #646 and #646.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #785, Saul #655.
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 | Saul |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #535 (2024) | Northern Ireland · Boys #278 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kenneth has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic); Saul does not have one recorded yet.
- Kenneth has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Saul.
- A meaning is recorded for Kenneth; Saul doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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
Saul
Popularity journey
First recorded1992
First recorded at #337 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1992 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #186 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 1999 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1402 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys