Edward vs Kevin
Edward 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Edward was ranked #31 and Kevin #264 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1992, Edward was ranked #75 and Kevin #97 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2001, Edward was ranked #81 and Kevin #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Edward was ranked #125 and Kevin #139 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Edward was ranked #177 and Kevin #164 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Edward was ranked #181 and Kevin #432 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Edward was ranked #189 and Kevin #186 among boys in Norway.
Edward and Kevin over time
Edward and Kevin appear together in 6 published lists, across 274 years of shared records. Kevin held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Edward in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 2001, Edward moved ahead of Kevin in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #93 and #67 the year before became #81 and #98.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Edward and Kevin changed places 11 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 2001, ending at #81 and #98.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 50 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Edward and Kevin averaged 23.1 places apart, ending at #81 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
Edward and Kevin were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 50 years, from 1952 to 2001, ending at #81 and #98.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Edward #51 in 1955, Kevin #8 in 1954.
List by list
Norway · Boys69 shared years, 1953–2025
Edward held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Kevin in 55.
Highest recorded here: Edward #168 in 2012, Kevin #44 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Edward #189, Kevin #186.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Edward held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Kevin in 54.
Highest recorded here: Edward #17 in 1965, Kevin #11 in 1987.
The order changed in 2024: Edward moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #177 and #138; by 2024 that had become #144 and #174.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Edward #125, Kevin #139.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys50 shared years, 1952–2001
Edward held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Kevin in 41.
Highest recorded here: Edward #48 in 1952, Kevin #15 in 1956.
The order changed in 2001: Edward moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #93 and #67; by 2001 that had become #81 and #98.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Edward #81, Kevin #98.
New Zealand · Boys37 shared years, 1954–1992
Edward held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Kevin in 25.
Highest recorded here: Edward #51 in 1955, Kevin #8 in 1954.
The order changed in 1979: Edward moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #80 and #63; by 1979 that had become #73 and #82.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Edward #75, Kevin #97.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Edward held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Kevin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Edward #23 in 2016, Kevin #141 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Edward #31, Kevin #264.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Edward held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Kevin in 16.
Highest recorded here: Edward #104 in 1997, Kevin #60 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Edward #177, 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 | Edward | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #75 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #139 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kevin has a recorded origin (Irish); Edward does not have one recorded yet.
- Edward and Kevin both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kevin; Edward doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Edward
Popularity journey
First recorded1950
First recorded at #324 among boys in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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