Namewise

Brendan vs Kevin

Brendan 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 2001, Brendan was ranked #61 and Kevin #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1989, Brendan was ranked #95 and Kevin #73 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Brendan was ranked #402 and Kevin #139 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Brendan was ranked #404 and Kevin #164 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Brendan was ranked #1613 and Kevin #292 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Brendan was ranked #619 and Kevin #432 among boys in Scotland.

Brendan and Kevin over time

Brendan and Kevin appear together in 5 published lists, across 180 years of shared records. Kevin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Brendan in 1.

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.

Kevin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Brendan in 2. 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 1973, Brendan moved ahead of Kevin in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #60 and #52 the year before became #49 and #63.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Brendan and Kevin changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1966 and 1989, ending at #95 and #73.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 37 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Brendan and Kevin averaged 32.8 places apart, ending at #61 and #98.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Brendan and Kevin were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1613 and #292.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Brendan #157 in 1998, Kevin #141 in 1996.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1997 they stood at #73 and #70 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #404 and #164.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Brendan held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Kevin in 61.

    Highest recorded here: Brendan #16 in 1965, Kevin #11 in 1987.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Brendan #402, Kevin #139.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys37 shared years, 1965–2001

    Brendan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Kevin in 8.

    Highest recorded here: Brendan #25 in 1985, Kevin #27 in 1965.

    The order changed in 1973: Brendan moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #60 and #52; by 1973 that had become #49 and #63.

    Most recent shared year, 2001: Brendan #61, Kevin #98.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Brendan held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Kevin in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Brendan #157 in 1998, Kevin #141 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Brendan #1613, Kevin #292.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024

    Brendan held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Kevin in 25.

    Highest recorded here: Brendan #73 in 1997, Kevin #60 in 1998.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Brendan #404, Kevin #164.

  • New Zealand · Boys24 shared years, 1966–1989

    Brendan held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Kevin in 17.

    Highest recorded here: Brendan #53 in 1982, Kevin #20 in 1967.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1989: Brendan #95, Kevin #73.

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 Brendan

Pairs where Brendan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Kevin

Pairs where Kevin shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Brendan, Kevin
FieldBrendanKevin
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedAn 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.
OriginNot yet recordedIrish
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈkɛv.ɪn/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #139 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Kevin has a recorded origin (Irish); Brendan does not have one recorded yet.
  • Brendan and Kevin both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Kevin; Brendan doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Brendan

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1613 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Kevin

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–1999

    Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1999).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #292 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys