Christopher vs Kevin
Christopher 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 1999, Christopher was ranked #35 and Kevin #94 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2001, Christopher was ranked #36 and Kevin #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Christopher was ranked #121 and Kevin #139 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Christopher was ranked #127 and Kevin #432 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Christopher was ranked #239 and Kevin #164 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Christopher was ranked #311 and Kevin #186 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Christopher was ranked #204 and Kevin #264 among boys in England and Wales.
Christopher and Kevin over time
Christopher and Kevin appear together in 6 published lists, across 277 years of shared records. Christopher held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Kevin 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.
Kevin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Christopher 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1957, Christopher moved ahead of Kevin in New Zealand · Boys — #10 and #8 the year before became #9 and #10.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Christopher and Kevin changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #204 and #264.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 50 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Christopher and Kevin averaged 43.7 places apart, ending at #36 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
Christopher and Kevin were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 50 years, from 1952 to 2001, ending at #36 and #98.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Christopher #25 in 1996, Kevin #141 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys70 shared years, 1953–2025
Christopher held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Kevin in 35.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #54 in 1987, Kevin #44 in 2002.
The order changed in 1991: Kevin moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #66 and #116; by 1991 that had become #84 and #79.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Christopher #311, Kevin #186.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Christopher held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Kevin in 50.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #13 in 1990, Kevin #11 in 1987.
The order changed in 2018: Christopher moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #92 and #92; by 2018 that had become #75 and #96.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Christopher #121, Kevin #139.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys50 shared years, 1952–2001
Christopher held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Kevin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #2 in 1985, Kevin #15 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Christopher #36, Kevin #98.
New Zealand · Boys39 shared years, 1954–1999
Christopher held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Kevin in 3.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #4 in 1984, Kevin #8 in 1954.
The order changed in 1957: Christopher moved ahead. In 1956 they stood at #10 and #8; by 1957 that had become #9 and #10.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Christopher #35, Kevin #94.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Christopher held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Kevin in 3.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #25 in 1996, Kevin #141 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Christopher #204, Kevin #264.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Christopher held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Kevin in 1.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #10 in 1998, Kevin #60 in 1998.
The order changed in 2024: Kevin moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #177 and #207; by 2024 that had become #239 and #164.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Christopher #239, Kevin #164.
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 | Christopher | Kevin |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Late Greek Christophoros, combining 'Christos' (Christ) with 'phero' ('to bear') — 'bearing Christ'. Associated with the legend of Saint Christopher carrying the young Jesus across a river. | 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 | Greek | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɹɪs.tə.fəɹ/ | /ˈkɛv.ɪn/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #121 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #139 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 58/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Christopher is recorded with a Greek origin, while Kevin is recorded with a Irish origin.
- Christopher has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Kevin.
- Christopher's recorded meaning differs from Kevin's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Christopher
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #306 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2014
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 (recorded 1952–2014).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #311 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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 #186 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys