Dale vs Kevin
Dale 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 1991, Dale was ranked #100 and Kevin #77 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Dale was ranked #657 and Kevin #127 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2016, Dale was ranked #358 and Kevin #216 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Dale was ranked #2952 and Kevin #292 among boys in England and Wales.
Dale and Kevin over time
Dale and Kevin appear together in 4 published lists, across 114 years of shared records. Kevin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Dale 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.
Kevin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Dale 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1997, Kevin moved ahead of Dale in England and Wales · Boys — #117 and #141 the year before became #147 and #144.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Dale and Kevin changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1957 and 1991, ending at #100 and #77.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Dale and Kevin averaged 33.4 places apart, ending at #100 and #77.
- Longest-running competitions
Dale and Kevin were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2952 and #292.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Dale #117 in 1996, Kevin #141 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1968–2022
Dale held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 43.
Highest recorded here: Dale #89 in 1994, Kevin #11 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Dale #657, Kevin #127.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Dale held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Kevin in 29.
Highest recorded here: Dale #117 in 1996, Kevin #141 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Kevin moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #117 and #141; by 1997 that had become #147 and #144.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Dale #2952, Kevin #292.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys26 shared years, 1957–1991
Dale held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Kevin in 22.
Highest recorded here: Dale #75 in 1988, Kevin #22 in 1957.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Dale #100, Kevin #77.
Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 1997–2016
Dale held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 15.
Highest recorded here: Dale #111 in 1998, Kevin #60 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Dale #358, Kevin #216.
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 | Dale | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #2952 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #139 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kevin has a recorded origin (Irish); Dale does not have one recorded yet.
- Dale and Kevin both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kevin; Dale doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Dale
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1957–1991
Highest recorded position: #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1988 (recorded 1957–1991).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2952 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