Kevin vs Noel
Kevin and Noelcompared 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 1963, Kevin was ranked #13 and Noel #94 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1964, Kevin was ranked #22 and Noel #91 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Kevin was ranked #186 and Noel #139 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Kevin was ranked #139 and Noel #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Kevin was ranked #207 and Noel #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kevin was ranked #264 and Noel #567 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kevin was ranked #432 and Noel #619 among boys in Scotland.
Kevin and Noel over time
Kevin and Noel appear together in 6 published lists, across 165 years of shared records. Kevin held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Noel 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.
Kevin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Noel 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 2023, Noel moved ahead of Kevin in Norway · Boys — #133 and #144 the year before became #149 and #148.
- Longest-running competitions
Kevin and Noel were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #139 and #402.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Kevin #8 in 1954, Noel #63 in 1954.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #15 and #20 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #139 and #402.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Kevin held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Noel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #11 in 1987, Noel #19 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kevin #139, Noel #402.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kevin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Noel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #141 in 1996, Noel #372 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kevin #264, Noel #567.
Norway · Boys26 shared years, 1994–2025
Kevin held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Noel in 3.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #48 in 2000, Noel #132 in 2024.
The order changed in 2023: Noel moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #133 and #144; by 2023 that had become #149 and #148.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kevin #186, Noel #139.
Northern Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 1997–2022
Kevin held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Noel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #60 in 1998, Noel #168 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Kevin #207, Noel #414.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys13 shared years, 1952–1964
Kevin held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Noel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #15 in 1956, Noel #54 in 1953.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1964: Kevin #22, Noel #91.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 1954–1963
Kevin held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Noel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #8 in 1954, Noel #63 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1963: Kevin #13, Noel #94.
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 | Noel |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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) | Norway · Boys #139 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| 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 has a recorded origin (Irish); Noel does not have one recorded yet.
- Kevin has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Noel.
- A meaning is recorded for Kevin; Noel 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
Noel
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #56 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #19 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1966 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #139 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys