Kim vs Vanessa
Kim and Vanessacompared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1985, Kim was ranked #78 and Vanessa #46 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1984, Kim was ranked #80 and Vanessa #47 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2011, Kim was ranked #589 and Vanessa #147 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Kim was ranked #451 and Vanessa #163 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Kim was ranked #736 and Vanessa #504 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Kim was ranked #4192 and Vanessa #533 among girls in England and Wales.
Kim and Vanessa over time
Kim and Vanessa appear together in 5 published lists, across 159 years of shared records. Vanessa held the stronger position in more years in 4 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 4 of those lists, and Vanessa 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls, Vanessa moved into the top 50 at #37 in 1982 as Kim fell out of it to #59, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1982, Vanessa moved ahead of Kim in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #42 and #45 the year before became #59 and #37.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kim and Vanessa changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1963 and 1984, ending at #80 and #47.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kim and Vanessa averaged 25.2 places apart, ending at #80 and #47.
- Longest-running competitions
Kim and Vanessa were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 34 years, from 1970 to 2011, ending at #589 and #147.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kim #382 in 1996, Vanessa #202 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1965–2024
Kim held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Vanessa in 30.
Highest recorded here: Kim #64 in 1992, Vanessa #97 in 1993.
The order changed in 2001: Vanessa moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #159 and #195; by 2001 that had become #196 and #173.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kim #736, Vanessa #504.
Norway · Girls34 shared years, 1970–2011
Kim held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Vanessa in 20.
Highest recorded here: Kim #224 in 1970, Vanessa #147 in 2011.
The order changed in 1989: Vanessa moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #308 and #311; by 1989 that had become #318 and #265.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Kim #589, Vanessa #147.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kim held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Vanessa in 29.
Highest recorded here: Kim #382 in 1996, Vanessa #202 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kim #4192, Vanessa #533.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls21 shared years, 1963–1984
Kim held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Vanessa in 6.
Highest recorded here: Kim #6 in 1967, Vanessa #17 in 1975.
The order changed in 1982: Vanessa moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #42 and #45; by 1982 that had become #59 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Kim #80, Vanessa #47.
New Zealand · Girls19 shared years, 1967–1985
Kim held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Vanessa in 11.
Highest recorded here: Kim #5 in 1968, Vanessa #15 in 1973.
The order changed in 1979: Vanessa moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #24 and #25; by 1979 that had become #36 and #20.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Kim #78, Vanessa #46.
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 | Vanessa |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Norway · Girls #187 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kim has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Vanessa.
- 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
Vanessa
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1967–1995
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1973 (recorded 1967–1995).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #187 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls