Graham vs Kevin
Graham 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 1972, Graham was ranked #74 and Kevin #42 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1979, Graham was ranked #100 and Kevin #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2010, Graham was ranked #387 and Kevin #118 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Graham was ranked #770 and Kevin #138 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Graham was ranked #5119 and Kevin #264 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Graham was ranked #727 and Kevin #432 among boys in Scotland.
Graham and Kevin over time
Graham and Kevin appear together in 5 published lists, across 139 years of shared records. Kevin held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Graham 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.
Graham reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Kevin 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 1956, Kevin moved ahead of Graham in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #22 and #23 the year before became #26 and #15.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Graham and Kevin averaged 11.1 places apart, ending at #100 and #83.
- Longest-running competitions
Graham and Kevin were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 54 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #770 and #138.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Graham #341 in 1996, Kevin #141 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys54 shared years, 1964–2023
Graham held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 54.
Highest recorded here: Graham #52 in 1984, Kevin #11 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Graham #770, Kevin #138.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Graham held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 29.
Highest recorded here: Graham #341 in 1996, Kevin #141 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Graham #5119, Kevin #264.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1952–1979
Graham held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Kevin in 26.
Highest recorded here: Graham #20 in 1952, Kevin #15 in 1956.
The order changed in 1956: Kevin moved ahead. In 1955 they stood at #22 and #23; by 1956 that had become #26 and #15.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Graham #100, Kevin #83.
New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 1954–1972
Graham held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 19.
Highest recorded here: Graham #23 in 1954, Kevin #8 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Graham #74, Kevin #42.
Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 1997–2010
Graham held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 9.
Highest recorded here: Graham #137 in 1998, Kevin #60 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Graham #387, Kevin #118.
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 | Graham | 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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #727 (2024) | 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); Graham does not have one recorded yet.
- Graham and Kevin both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kevin; Graham doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Graham
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #20 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 recorded1952–1979
Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1979).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5119 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