Namewise

Kevin vs Mats

Kevin and Matscompared 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.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2020, Kevin was ranked #155 and Mats #4608 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2025, Kevin was ranked #186 and Mats #228 among boys in Norway.

Kevin and Mats over time

Kevin and Mats appear together in 1 published list, across 71 years of shared records. Mats held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Kevin 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.

Mats reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 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.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys71 shared years, 1953–2025

    Kevin held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Mats in 52.

    Highest recorded here: Kevin #44 in 2002, Mats #21 in 1989.

    The order changed in 2025: Kevin moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #201 and #177; by 2025 that had become #186 and #228.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Kevin #186, Mats #228.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Kevin

Pairs where Kevin shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Mats

Pairs where Mats shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Kevin, Mats
FieldKevinMats
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningAn 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
OriginIrishNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈkɛv.ɪn/
Syllables21
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZGB-ENW, NO
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #139 (2025)Norway · Boys #228 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/10060/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Kevin has a recorded origin (Irish); Mats does not have one recorded yet.
  • Kevin has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Mats.
  • A meaning is recorded for Kevin; Mats doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.

How each name got here

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

Mats

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1949

    First recorded at #330 among boys in Norway in 1949 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1949–2025

    Highest recorded position: #21 among boys in Norway, in 1989 (recorded 1949–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #228 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys