Kim vs Kylie
Kim and Kyliecompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1984, Kim was ranked #80 and Kylie #13 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1985, Kim was ranked #78 and Kylie #16 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2002, Kim was ranked #339 and Kylie #252 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Kim was ranked #736 and Kylie #372 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Kim was ranked #4192 and Kylie #1262 among girls in England and Wales.
Kim and Kylie over time
Kim and Kylie appear together in 4 published lists, across 84 years of shared records. Kylie held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kim in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Kim reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Kylie 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 1970, Kylie moved ahead of Kim in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #10 and #18 the year before became #9 and #6.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kim and Kylie averaged 28.6 places apart, ending at #80 and #13.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kim #382 in 1996, Kylie #349 in 1998.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kim held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Kylie in 27.
Highest recorded here: Kim #382 in 1996, Kylie #349 in 1998.
The order changed in 1998: Kylie moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #422 and #565; by 1998 that had become #561 and #349.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kim #4192, Kylie #1262.
Republic of Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1987–2024
Kim held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Kylie in 8.
Highest recorded here: Kim #70 in 1989, Kylie #250 in 1989.
The order changed in 2013: Kylie moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #510 and #612; by 2013 that had become #747 and #491.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kim #736, Kylie #372.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls20 shared years, 1965–1984
Kim held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Kylie in 15.
Highest recorded here: Kim #6 in 1967, Kylie #2 in 1971.
The order changed in 1970: Kylie moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #10 and #18; by 1970 that had become #9 and #6.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Kim #80, Kylie #13.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 1972–1985
Kim held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Kylie in 11.
Highest recorded here: Kim #12 in 1972, Kylie #12 in 1975.
The order changed in 1975: Kylie moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #14 and #23; by 1975 that had become #18 and #12.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Kim #78, Kylie #16.
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 | Kim | Kylie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | Used for both boys and girls | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Emerged in Australia, reportedly meaning 'boomerang' in the Nyungar Aboriginal language; alternatively read as a feminine form of Kyle or a blend of the phonetic elements 'ky' and 'lee'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Nyungar (Australian Aboriginal), disputed alternative readings |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈkaɪ.li/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #736 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kylie has a recorded origin (Nyungar (Australian Aboriginal), disputed alternative readings); Kim does not have one recorded yet.
- Kim has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Kylie.
- A meaning is recorded for Kylie; Kim doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Kim
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #344 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1958–1985
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1958–1985).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4192 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Kylie
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1965–1989
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1971 (recorded 1965–1989).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls