Barry vs Kevin
Barry and Kevincompared 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 · Boys
In 1972, Barry was ranked #73 and Kevin #42 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1973, Barry was ranked #97 and Kevin #63 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Barry was ranked #402 and Kevin #139 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Barry was ranked #414 and Kevin #207 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Barry was ranked #3684 and Kevin #292 among boys in England and Wales.
Barry and Kevin over time
Barry and Kevin appear together in 5 published lists, across 152 years of shared records. Kevin held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Barry in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Barry reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Kevin in 1. 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.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Barry and Kevin averaged 24.3 places apart, ending at #97 and #63.
- Longest-running competitions
Barry and Kevin were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #402 and #139.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Barry #441 in 1996, Kevin #141 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 62.
Highest recorded here: Barry #17 in 1985, Kevin #11 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Barry #402, Kevin #139.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2025
Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 29.
Highest recorded here: Barry #441 in 1996, Kevin #141 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Barry #3684, Kevin #292.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys21 shared years, 1952–1973
Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 21.
Highest recorded here: Barry #30 in 1952, Kevin #15 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1973: Barry #97, Kevin #63.
Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1997–2022
Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 21.
Highest recorded here: Barry #90 in 1997, Kevin #60 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Barry #414, Kevin #207.
New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 1954–1972
Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 19.
Highest recorded here: Barry #24 in 1955, Kevin #8 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Barry #73, Kevin #42.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Barry
Pairs where Barry shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Gregory vs Barry
In 1964 they stood at #78 and #69 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #829 and #402.
Gregory · Barry · 60 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Barry
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #90 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2022 they were #6 and #414.
Oliver · Barry · 21 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oisin vs Barry
In 1997 they stood at #81 and #90 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #7 and #414.
Oisin · Barry · 21 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Harry vs Barry
In 1997 they stood at #87 and #90 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2022 they were #8 and #414.
Harry · Barry · 21 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Kevin
Pairs where Kevin shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Kevin vs Ronny
Over 52 shared years in Norway · Boys, Kevin rose about as far as Ronny fell — from #369 and #231 in 1953 to #62 and #515 in 2011.
Kevin · Ronny · 52 shared years, 1953–2011 · Mirrored each other
- Brian vs Kevin
Brian and Kevin changed places 15 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1984, ending at #96 and #70.
Brian · Kevin · 33 shared years, 1952–1984 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Kevin vs Kristoffer
Kevin and Kristoffer changed places 15 times in Norway · Boys between 1953 and 2025, ending at #186 and #187.
Kevin · Kristoffer · 71 shared years, 1953–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Kevin vs Marcus
Kevin and Marcus changed places 14 times in Norway · Boys between 1963 and 2025, ending at #186 and #150.
Kevin · Marcus · 62 shared years, 1963–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.
- Christopher vs Paul
Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Leo
Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Luca
Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Amelia vs Sofia
Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Barry | Kevin |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | An Anglicized form of the Irish Caoimhín, combining Old Irish 'cóem' (dear, beloved, gentle) with 'gein' (birth) — 'beloved birth'. Associated with Saint Caoimhín, who founded a monastery at Glendalough in the 6th century. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɛv.ɪn/ | |
| 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 | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #139 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kevin has a recorded origin (Irish); Barry does not have one recorded yet.
- Barry and Kevin both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kevin; Barry 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
Barry
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #30 among boys 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 · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3684 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Kevin
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #26 among boys 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 · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #292 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys