Kerry vs Molly
Kerry and Mollycompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Kerry was ranked #834 and Molly #19 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Kerry was ranked #397 and Molly #22 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Kerry was ranked #4843 and Molly #104 among girls in England and Wales.
Kerry and Molly over time
Kerry and Molly appear together in 3 published lists, across 67 years of shared records. Molly held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kerry in 0.
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.
Kerry reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Molly 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 1998, Molly moved ahead of Kerry in Northern Ireland · Girls — #83 and #89 the year before became #91 and #47.
- Mirrored each other
Over 24 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Molly rose about as far as Kerry fell — from #353 and #408 in 1989 to #834 and #19 in 2020.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #83 and #89 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2020 they were #397 and #22.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls25 shared years, 1996–2024
Kerry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Molly in 25.
Highest recorded here: Kerry #136 in 1996, Molly #15 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kerry #4843, Molly #104.
Republic of Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 1989–2020
Kerry held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Molly in 22.
Highest recorded here: Kerry #149 in 2004, Molly #19 in 2020.
The order changed in 1992: Molly moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #197 and #273; by 1992 that had become #193 and #188.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Kerry #834, Molly #19.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1997–2020
Kerry held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Molly in 17.
Highest recorded here: Kerry #82 in 2002, Molly #18 in 2007.
The order changed in 1998: Molly moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #83 and #89; by 1998 that had become #91 and #47.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Kerry #397, Molly #22.
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 | Kerry | Molly |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | Used for both boys and girls | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4843 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #20 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kerry and Molly both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Kerry
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #23 among girls 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 · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1976
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1956 (recorded 1952–1976).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4843 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Molly
Popularity journey
First recorded1989
First recorded at #408 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1989 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2001 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #217 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls