Kenneth vs Stefan
Kenneth and Stefancompared 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 Stefan #179 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #785 and Stefan #287 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2007, Kenneth was ranked #315 and Stefan #357 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #968 and Stefan #385 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #535 and Stefan #535 among boys in Scotland.
Kenneth and Stefan over time
Kenneth and Stefan appear together in 3 published lists, across 145 years of shared records. Kenneth held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Stefan 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 2 of those lists, and Stefan 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 2007, Stefan moved ahead of Kenneth in Norway · Boys — #230 and #250 the year before became #287 and #198.
- Longest-running competitions
Kenneth and Stefan were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 72 years, from 1947 to 2021, ending at #475 and #179.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Kenneth #345 in 1996, Stefan #155 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys72 shared years, 1947–2021
Kenneth held the stronger position in 57 of those years, Stefan in 15.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #10 in 1979, Stefan #98 in 1990.
The order changed in 2007: Stefan moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #230 and #250; by 2007 that had become #287 and #198.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Kenneth #475, Stefan #179.
Republic of Ireland · Boys44 shared years, 1974–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Stefan in 15.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #26 in 1974, Stefan #154 in 1989.
The order changed in 2011: Stefan moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #422 and #448; by 2011 that had become #387 and #366.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #785, Stefan #287.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stefan in 29.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #345 in 1996, Stefan #155 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #968, Stefan #385.
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 | Stefan |
|---|---|---|
| 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-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #535 (2024) | Norway · Boys #272 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| 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 has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic); Stefan does not have one recorded yet.
- Kenneth and Stefan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kenneth; Stefan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in 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
Stefan
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #343 among boys in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1947–2025
Highest recorded position: #98 among boys in Norway, in 1990 (recorded 1947–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #272 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys