Francis vs Kevin
Francis 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 1964, Francis was ranked #93 and Kevin #16 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1961, Francis was ranked #93 and Kevin #22 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Francis was ranked #309 and Kevin #139 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Francis was ranked #278 and Kevin #164 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Francis was ranked #316 and Kevin #186 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Francis was ranked #193 and Kevin #264 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Francis was ranked #352 and Kevin #432 among boys in Scotland.
Francis and Kevin over time
Francis and Kevin appear together in 5 published lists, across 154 years of shared records. Kevin held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Francis in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Francis reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Kevin 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 2024, Francis moved ahead of Kevin in England and Wales · Boys — #231 and #210 the year before became #193 and #264.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Francis and Kevin changed places 6 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #278 and #164.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Francis and Kevin averaged 52.0 places apart, ending at #193 and #264.
- Longest-running competitions
Francis and Kevin were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #309 and #139.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Francis #188 in 1996, Kevin #141 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Francis held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 62.
Highest recorded here: Francis #16 in 1964, Kevin #11 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Francis #309, Kevin #139.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Francis held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Kevin in 28.
Highest recorded here: Francis #188 in 1996, Kevin #141 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Francis moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #231 and #210; by 2024 that had become #193 and #264.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Francis #193, Kevin #264.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Francis held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Kevin in 23.
Highest recorded here: Francis #100 in 1997, Kevin #60 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Francis #278, Kevin #164.
Norway · Boys26 shared years, 1960–2025
Francis held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Kevin in 23.
Highest recorded here: Francis #316 in 2025, Kevin #44 in 2002.
The order changed in 1967: Kevin moved ahead. In 1966 they stood at #478 and #488; by 1967 that had become #529 and #427.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Francis #316, Kevin #186.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys10 shared years, 1952–1961
Francis held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 10.
Highest recorded here: Francis #71 in 1954, Kevin #15 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1961: Francis #93, Kevin #22.
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 Francis
Pairs where Francis shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Daniel vs Francis
In 1964 they stood at #19 and #16 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #309.
Daniel · Francis · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Thomas vs Francis
In 1964 they stood at #6 and #16 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #16 and #309.
Thomas · Francis · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Adrian vs Francis
Adrian and Francis changed places 20 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #348 and #309.
Adrian · Francis · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Francis vs Noel
Francis and Noel changed places 14 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #309 and #402.
Francis · Noel · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other comparisons involving Kevin
Pairs where Kevin shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Kevin vs Ronny
Over 52 shared years in Norway · Boys, Kevin rose about as far as Ronny fell — from #369 and #231 in 1953 to #62 and #515 in 2011.
Kevin · Ronny · 52 shared years, 1953–2011 · Mirrored each other
- Brian vs Kevin
Brian and Kevin changed places 15 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1984, ending at #96 and #70.
Brian · Kevin · 33 shared years, 1952–1984 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Kevin vs Kristoffer
Kevin and Kristoffer changed places 15 times in Norway · Boys between 1953 and 2025, ending at #186 and #187.
Kevin · Kristoffer · 71 shared years, 1953–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Kevin vs Marcus
Kevin and Marcus changed places 14 times in Norway · Boys between 1963 and 2025, ending at #186 and #150.
Kevin · Marcus · 62 shared years, 1963–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Side by side
| Field | Francis | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #309 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #139 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kevin has a recorded origin (Irish); Francis does not have one recorded yet.
- Francis and Kevin both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kevin; Francis 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
Francis
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #74 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #316 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