Namewise

Glenn vs Kevin

Glenn 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 1986, Glenn was ranked #99 and Kevin #70 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1983, Glenn was ranked #100 and Kevin #73 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2012, Glenn was ranked #545 and Kevin #76 among boys in Norway.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Glenn was ranked #829 and Kevin #139 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2013, Glenn was ranked #343 and Kevin #153 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Glenn was ranked #5119 and Kevin #264 among boys in England and Wales.

Glenn and Kevin over time

Glenn and Kevin appear together in 6 published lists, across 215 years of shared records. Kevin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Glenn in 2.

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 3 of those lists, Glenn in 2. 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 1992, Kevin moved ahead of Glenn in Norway · Boys — #74 and #79 the year before became #104 and #72.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Glenn and Kevin changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1983, ending at #100 and #73.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 35 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Glenn and Kevin averaged 15.7 places apart, ending at #99 and #70.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 56 shared years in Norway · Boys, Kevin rose about as far as Glenn fell — from #293 and #369 in 1953 to #545 and #76 in 2012.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Glenn and Kevin were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 35 years, from 1952 to 1986, ending at #99 and #70.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Glenn #278 in 1996, Kevin #141 in 1996.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys56 shared years, 19532012

    Glenn held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Kevin in 19.

    Highest recorded here: Glenn #57 in 1974, Kevin #44 in 2002.

    The order changed in 1992: Kevin moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #74 and #79; by 1992 that had become #104 and #72.

    Most recent shared year, 2012: Glenn #545, Kevin #76.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 19642025

    Glenn held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 55.

    Highest recorded here: Glenn #92 in 1992, Kevin #11 in 1987.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Glenn #829, Kevin #139.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys35 shared years, 19521986

    Glenn held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Kevin in 13.

    Highest recorded here: Glenn #16 in 1962, Kevin #15 in 1956.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1986: Glenn #99, Kevin #70.

  • New Zealand · Boys29 shared years, 19541983

    Glenn held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Kevin in 18.

    Highest recorded here: Glenn #28 in 1971, Kevin #8 in 1954.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1983: Glenn #100, Kevin #73.

  • England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 19962024

    Glenn held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 27.

    Highest recorded here: Glenn #278 in 1996, Kevin #141 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Glenn #5119, Kevin #264.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 19972013

    Glenn held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 13.

    Highest recorded here: Glenn #104 in 1997, Kevin #60 in 1998.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2013: Glenn #343, Kevin #153.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Glenn, Kevin
FieldGlennKevin
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedAn 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.
OriginNot yet recordedIrish
Pronunciation/ˈkɛv.ɪn/
Syllables12
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #139 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Kevin has a recorded origin (Irish); Glenn does not have one recorded yet.
  • Glenn has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Kevin.
  • A meaning is recorded for Kevin; Glenn 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

Glenn

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1948

    First recorded at #329 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1952–1986

    Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1962 (recorded 1952–1986).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

Kevin

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–1999

    Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1999).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #186 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys