Gary vs Kevin
Gary 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 1984, Gary was ranked #88 and Kevin #70 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1981, Gary was ranked #94 and Kevin #72 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Gary was ranked #785 and Kevin #174 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Gary was ranked #352 and Kevin #207 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Gary was ranked #2671 and Kevin #264 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Gary was ranked #619 and Kevin #432 among boys in Scotland.
Gary and Kevin over time
Gary and Kevin appear together in 5 published lists, across 165 years of shared records. Kevin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Gary in 1.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 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 1977, Kevin moved ahead of Gary in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #77 and #78 the year before became #82 and #73.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gary and Kevin changed places 11 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1984, ending at #88 and #70.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Gary and Kevin averaged 7.0 places apart, ending at #88 and #70.
- Longest-running competitions
Gary and Kevin were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 31 years, from 1952 to 1984, ending at #88 and #70.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Gary #147 in 1996, Kevin #141 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #147 and #141 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2024 they were #2671 and #264.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2024
Gary held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 60.
Highest recorded here: Gary #25 in 1991, Kevin #11 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gary #785, Kevin #174.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys31 shared years, 1952–1984
Gary held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Kevin in 11.
Highest recorded here: Gary #8 in 1952, Kevin #15 in 1956.
The order changed in 1977: Kevin moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #77 and #78; by 1977 that had become #82 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Gary #88, Kevin #70.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gary held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 29.
Highest recorded here: Gary #147 in 1996, Kevin #141 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gary #2671, Kevin #264.
New Zealand · Boys25 shared years, 1954–1981
Gary held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Kevin in 24.
Highest recorded here: Gary #19 in 1956, Kevin #8 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Gary #94, Kevin #72.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2022
Gary held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Kevin in 18.
Highest recorded here: Gary #57 in 1997, Kevin #60 in 1998.
The order changed in 2003: Kevin moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #82 and #86; by 2003 that had become #201 and #100.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Gary #352, Kevin #207.
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 | Gary | Kevin |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | An English surname originally a short form of Norman given names beginning with the Old German element 'ger' ('spear'). Adopted as a stage name by actor Gary Cooper, after Gary, Indiana. | 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 | Germanic (surname origin) | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɡæɹ.i/ | /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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #619 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #139 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Gary is recorded with a Germanic (surname origin) origin, while Kevin is recorded with a Irish origin.
- Gary and Kevin both have 2 syllables.
- Gary'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, NZ.
How each name got here
Gary
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #8 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 recorded1952–1984
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2671 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
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 #186 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys