Kenneth vs Kevin
Kenneth 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 1981, Kenneth was ranked #88 and Kevin #72 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1977, Kenneth was ranked #99 and Kevin #73 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2007, Kenneth was ranked #315 and Kevin #104 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2021, Kenneth was ranked #475 and Kevin #135 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #785 and Kevin #174 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #968 and Kevin #264 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #535 and Kevin #432 among boys in Scotland.
Kenneth and Kevin over time
Kenneth and Kevin appear together in 5 published lists, across 203 years of shared records. Kevin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Kenneth 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.
Kenneth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 Kenneth in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #21 and #23 the year before became #27 and #15.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Kenneth and Kevin averaged 16.8 places apart, ending at #99 and #73.
- Longest-running competitions
Kenneth and Kevin were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 67 years, from 1953 to 2021, ending at #475 and #135.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Kenneth #345 in 1996, Kevin #141 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys67 shared years, 1953–2021
Kenneth held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Kevin in 27.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #10 in 1979, Kevin #44 in 2002.
The order changed in 1995: Kevin moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #58 and #73; by 1995 that had become #77 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Kenneth #475, Kevin #135.
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 60.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #26 in 1972, Kevin #11 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #785, Kevin #174.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 29.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #345 in 1996, Kevin #141 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #968, Kevin #264.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys26 shared years, 1952–1977
Kenneth held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Kevin in 23.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #16 in 1952, Kevin #15 in 1956.
The order changed in 1956: Kevin moved ahead. In 1955 they stood at #21 and #23; by 1956 that had become #27 and #15.
Most recent shared year, 1977: Kenneth #99, Kevin #73.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1981
Kenneth held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kevin in 21.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #28 in 1954, Kevin #8 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Kenneth #88, Kevin #72.
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 | Kenneth | Kevin |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | An Anglicized form of both Coinneach and Cináed, of Scottish Gaelic origin. Borne by the Scottish king Kenneth mac Alpin, who united the Scots and Picts in the 9th century. | 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 | Scottish Gaelic | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɛn.əθ/ | /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 | Scotland · Boys #535 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #139 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Kenneth is recorded with a Scottish Gaelic origin, while Kevin is recorded with a Irish origin.
- Kenneth and Kevin both have 2 syllables.
- Kenneth'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, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Kenneth
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #303 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2021
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in Norway, in 1979 (recorded 1945–2021).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #968 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