Kim vs Nicole
Kim and Nicolecompared 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 Nicole #7 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1985, Kim was ranked #78 and Nicole #31 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Kim was ranked #451 and Nicole #81 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Kim was ranked #736 and Nicole #191 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Kim was ranked #4192 and Nicole #328 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2011, Kim was ranked #589 and Nicole #335 among girls in Norway.
Kim and Nicole over time
Kim and Nicole appear together in 5 published lists, across 161 years of shared records. Nicole held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kim in 2.
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 4 of those lists, and Nicole 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Nicole moved into the top 50 at #37 in 1982 as Kim fell out of it to #63, having been #35 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1969, Nicole moved ahead of Kim in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #10 and #13 the year before became #10 and #5.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kim and Nicole changed places 9 times in Norway · Girls between 1969 and 2011, ending at #589 and #335.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kim and Nicole averaged 28.2 places apart, ending at #80 and #7.
- Longest-running competitions
Kim and Nicole were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 37 years, from 1969 to 2011, ending at #589 and #335.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kim #382 in 1996, Nicole #36 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2024
Kim held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Nicole in 31.
Highest recorded here: Kim #64 in 1992, Nicole #15 in 1996.
The order changed in 1990: Nicole moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #70 and #77; by 1990 that had become #83 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kim #736, Nicole #191.
Norway · Girls37 shared years, 1969–2011
Kim held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Nicole in 17.
Highest recorded here: Kim #224 in 1970, Nicole #205 in 2003.
The order changed in 2000: Nicole moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #331 and #411; by 2000 that had become #556 and #303.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Kim #589, Nicole #335.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kim held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nicole in 29.
Highest recorded here: Kim #382 in 1996, Nicole #36 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kim #4192, Nicole #328.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls21 shared years, 1964–1984
Kim held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Nicole in 16.
Highest recorded here: Kim #6 in 1967, Nicole #2 in 1975.
The order changed in 1969: Nicole moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #10 and #13; by 1969 that had become #10 and #5.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Kim #80, Nicole #7.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1969–1985
Kim held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Nicole in 5.
Highest recorded here: Kim #10 in 1969, Nicole #31 in 1985.
The order changed in 1982: Nicole moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #35 and #67; by 1982 that had become #63 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Kim #78, Nicole #31.
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 | Nicole |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | Used for both boys and girls | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The French feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /nɪ.ˈkoʊl/ |
| 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 #381 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicole has a recorded origin (Greek, via French transmission); Kim does not have one recorded yet.
- Kim has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Nicole.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicole; Kim doesn't have one written yet.
- 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
Nicole
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2002
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1975 (recorded 1964–2002).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #448 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls