Kenneth vs Simon
Kenneth and Simoncompared 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 Simon #21 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1977, Kenneth was ranked #99 and Simon #26 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2021, Kenneth was ranked #475 and Simon #123 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2007, Kenneth was ranked #315 and Simon #199 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #785 and Simon #275 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #968 and Simon #524 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #535 and Simon #535 among boys in Scotland.
Kenneth and Simon over time
Kenneth and Simon appear together in 5 published lists, across 206 years of shared records. Simon 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.
Kenneth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Simon 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 1965, Simon moved ahead of Kenneth in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #34 and #61 the year before became #49 and #45.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Kenneth and Simon averaged 46.5 places apart, ending at #99 and #26.
- Mirrored each other
Over 73 shared years in Norway · Boys, Simon rose about as far as Kenneth fell — from #303 and #266 in 1945 to #475 and #123 in 2021.
- Longest-running competitions
Kenneth and Simon were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 73 years, from 1945 to 2021, ending at #475 and #123.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Kenneth #345 in 1996, Simon #87 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys73 shared years, 1945–2021
Kenneth held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Simon in 31.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #10 in 1979, Simon #35 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Kenneth #475, Simon #123.
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Simon in 38.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #26 in 1972, Simon #46 in 1987.
The order changed in 1986: Simon moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #51 and #52; by 1986 that had become #65 and #50.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #785, Simon #275.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Simon in 29.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #345 in 1996, Simon #87 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #968, Simon #524.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys23 shared years, 1955–1977
Kenneth held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Simon in 13.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #21 in 1955, Simon #24 in 1970.
The order changed in 1965: Simon moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #34 and #61; by 1965 that had become #49 and #45.
Most recent shared year, 1977: Kenneth #99, Simon #26.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1981
Kenneth held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Simon in 14.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #28 in 1954, Simon #13 in 1977.
The order changed in 1961: Simon moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #37 and #50; by 1961 that had become #42 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Kenneth #88, Simon #21.
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 | Simon |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #535 (2024) | Norway · Boys #159 (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); Simon does not have one recorded yet.
- Kenneth and Simon both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kenneth; Simon doesn't have one written yet.
- 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
Simon
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #266 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1997
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1954–1997).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys