Kevin vs Marcus
Kevin and Marcuscompared 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 2001, Kevin was ranked #98 and Marcus #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1985, Kevin was ranked #83 and Marcus #81 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Kevin was ranked #139 and Marcus #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Kevin was ranked #164 and Marcus #144 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Kevin was ranked #186 and Marcus #150 among boys in Norway.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kevin was ranked #432 and Marcus #176 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kevin was ranked #264 and Marcus #233 among boys in England and Wales.
Kevin and Marcus over time
Kevin and Marcus appear together in 5 published lists, across 189 years of shared records. Kevin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Marcus 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, Marcus 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 2024, Marcus moved ahead of Kevin in Northern Ireland · Boys — #207 and #311 the year before became #164 and #144.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kevin and Marcus changed places 11 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #164 and #144.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Kevin and Marcus averaged 53.0 places apart, ending at #264 and #233.
- Longest-running competitions
Kevin and Marcus were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 62 years, from 1963 to 2025, ending at #186 and #150.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Boys within 2 years — Kevin #44 in 2002, Marcus #24 in 2001.
List by list
Norway · Boys62 shared years, 1963–2025
Kevin held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Marcus in 38.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #44 in 2002, Marcus #24 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kevin #186, Marcus #150.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Kevin held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Marcus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #11 in 1987, Marcus #99 in 1972.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kevin #139, Marcus #232.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kevin held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Marcus in 19.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #141 in 1996, Marcus #83 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kevin #264, Marcus #233.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Kevin held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Marcus in 3.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #60 in 1998, Marcus #100 in 2003.
The order changed in 2024: Marcus moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #207 and #311; by 2024 that had become #164 and #144.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kevin #164, Marcus #144.
New Zealand · Boys9 shared years, 1971–1985
Kevin held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Marcus in 1.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #37 in 1971, Marcus #81 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Kevin #83, Marcus #81.
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 | Kevin | Marcus |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | 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. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| 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, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #139 (2025) | Norway · Boys #150 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kevin has a recorded origin (Irish); Marcus does not have one recorded yet.
- Kevin and Marcus both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kevin; Marcus 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
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
Marcus
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #399 among boys in Norway in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1963–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1963–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #150 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys