Kevin vs Mark
Kevin and Markcompared 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 1997, Kevin was ranked #84 and Mark #75 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2001, Kevin was ranked #98 and Mark #90 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Kevin was ranked #139 and Mark #99 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Kevin was ranked #164 and Mark #177 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kevin was ranked #432 and Mark #169 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Kevin was ranked #186 and Mark #286 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kevin was ranked #264 and Mark #277 among boys in England and Wales.
Kevin and Mark over time
Kevin and Mark appear together in 6 published lists, across 276 years of shared records. Mark held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Kevin in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 6 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, Mark 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 2010, Kevin moved ahead of Mark in England and Wales · Boys — #184 and #184 the year before became #181 and #201.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kevin and Mark changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #164 and #177.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Kevin and Mark averaged 55.9 places apart, ending at #264 and #277.
- Longest-running competitions
Kevin and Mark were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 50 years, from 1952 to 2001, ending at #98 and #90.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Kevin #141 in 1996, Mark #55 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys70 shared years, 1955–2025
Kevin held the stronger position in 54 of those years, Mark in 16.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #44 in 2002, Mark #211 in 1970.
The order changed in 1973: Kevin moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #477 and #270; by 1973 that had become #245 and #329.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kevin #186, Mark #286.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Kevin held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Mark in 58.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #11 in 1987, Mark #7 in 1974.
The order changed in 1994: Mark moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #11 and #12; by 1994 that had become #12 and #11.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kevin #139, Mark #99.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys50 shared years, 1952–2001
Kevin held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Mark in 47.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #15 in 1956, Mark #2 in 1960.
The order changed in 2001: Mark moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #67 and #89; by 2001 that had become #98 and #90.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Kevin #98, Mark #90.
New Zealand · Boys38 shared years, 1954–1997
Kevin held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Mark in 35.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #8 in 1954, Mark #2 in 1974.
The order changed in 1957: Mark moved ahead. In 1956 they stood at #8 and #9; by 1957 that had become #10 and #8.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Kevin #84, Mark #75.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kevin held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Mark in 13.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #141 in 1996, Mark #55 in 1996.
The order changed in 2010: Kevin moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #184 and #184; by 2010 that had become #181 and #201.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kevin #264, Mark #277.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Kevin held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Mark in 22.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #60 in 1998, Mark #12 in 1999.
The order changed in 2024: Kevin moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #207 and #207; by 2024 that had become #164 and #177.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kevin #164, Mark #177.
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 | Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | A form of the Latin name Marcus used in several languages. Saint Mark authored the second Gospel and is patron saint of Venice. |
| Origin | Irish | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɛv.ɪn/ | /ˈmɑɹk/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #99 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kevin is recorded with a Irish origin, while Mark is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Kevin has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Mark.
- Kevin's recorded meaning differs from Mark'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
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
Mark
Popularity journey
First recorded1950
First recorded at #362 among boys in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2001
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1960 (recorded 1952–2001).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #286 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys