Kim vs Michelle
Kim and Michellecompared 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 Michelle #10 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1985, Kim was ranked #78 and Michelle #15 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2011, Kim was ranked #589 and Michelle #146 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Kim was ranked #736 and Michelle #307 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Kim was ranked #4192 and Michelle #360 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Kim was ranked #451 and Michelle #451 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Kim and Michelle over time
Kim and Michelle appear together in 5 published lists, across 187 years of shared records. Michelle held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Kim in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kim and Michelle averaged 19.4 places apart, ending at #80 and #10.
- Longest-running competitions
Kim and Michelle were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 33 years, from 1952 to 1984, ending at #80 and #10.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kim #382 in 1996, Michelle #153 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2024
Kim held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Michelle in 57.
Highest recorded here: Kim #64 in 1992, Michelle #2 in 1978.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kim #736, Michelle #307.
Norway · Girls40 shared years, 1966–2011
Kim held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Michelle in 29.
Highest recorded here: Kim #205 in 1967, Michelle #82 in 2008.
The order changed in 1978: Michelle moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #282 and #283; by 1978 that had become #270 and #242.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Kim #589, Michelle #146.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls33 shared years, 1952–1984
Kim held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Michelle in 24.
Highest recorded here: Kim #6 in 1959, Michelle #1 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Kim #80, Michelle #10.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kim held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Michelle in 29.
Highest recorded here: Kim #382 in 1996, Michelle #153 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kim #4192, Michelle #360.
New Zealand · Girls28 shared years, 1958–1985
Kim held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Michelle in 28.
Highest recorded here: Kim #5 in 1968, Michelle #1 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Kim #78, Michelle #15.
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 | Michelle |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 | 3 |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #736 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #304 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kim has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Michelle.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, 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
Michelle
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #95 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 recorded1952–2000
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1967 (recorded 1952–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #329 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls