Colin vs Kevin
Colin 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 1975, Colin was ranked #99 and Kevin #53 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1983, Colin was ranked #90 and Kevin #76 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Colin was ranked #119 and Kevin #186 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Colin was ranked #348 and Kevin #139 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Colin was ranked #433 and Kevin #192 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Colin was ranked #1000 and Kevin #264 among boys in England and Wales.
Colin and Kevin over time
Colin and Kevin appear together in 6 published lists, across 206 years of shared records. Kevin held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Colin in 0.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 3 of the lists they share.
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 1983, Kevin moved ahead of Colin in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #80 and #83 the year before became #90 and #76.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Colin and Kevin changed places 9 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1983, ending at #90 and #76.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Colin and Kevin averaged 6.4 places apart, ending at #90 and #76.
- Longest-running competitions
Colin and Kevin were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 32 years, from 1952 to 1983, ending at #90 and #76.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Colin #311 in 1997, Kevin #141 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 62.
Highest recorded here: Colin #38 in 1985, Kevin #11 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #348, Kevin #139.
Norway · Boys41 shared years, 1964–2025
Colin held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Kevin in 36.
Highest recorded here: Colin #119 in 2025, Kevin #44 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #119, Kevin #186.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys32 shared years, 1952–1983
Colin held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Kevin in 27.
Highest recorded here: Colin #22 in 1952, Kevin #15 in 1956.
The order changed in 1983: Kevin moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #80 and #83; by 1983 that had become #90 and #76.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Colin #90, Kevin #76.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 29.
Highest recorded here: Colin #311 in 1997, Kevin #141 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colin #1000, Kevin #264.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1975
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 21.
Highest recorded here: Colin #25 in 1955, Kevin #8 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1975: Colin #99, Kevin #53.
Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1997–2021
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 21.
Highest recorded here: Colin #96 in 1997, Kevin #60 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Colin #433, Kevin #192.
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 | Colin | 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 | Not yet recorded | /ˈkɛv.ɪn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| 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 | Norway · Boys #119 (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); Colin does not have one recorded yet.
- Colin and Kevin both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kevin; Colin 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
Colin
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #326 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1983
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1983).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #119 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