Namewise

Kevin vs Oscar

Kevin and Oscarcompared 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 2024, Kevin was ranked #264 and Oscar #9 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Kevin was ranked #432 and Oscar #22 among boys in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Kevin was ranked #139 and Oscar #31 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Kevin was ranked #164 and Oscar #34 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2025, Kevin was ranked #186 and Oscar #51 among boys in Norway.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 2001, Kevin was ranked #98 and Oscar #74 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1999, Kevin was ranked #94 and Oscar #99 among boys in New Zealand.

Kevin and Oscar over time

Kevin and Oscar appear together in 4 published lists, across 158 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.

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.

Kevin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Oscar 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 2009, Oscar moved ahead of Kevin in Northern Ireland · Boys — #101 and #118 the year before became #100 and #91.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Kevin and Oscar changed places 12 times in Norway · Boys between 1953 and 2025, ending at #186 and #51.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Oscar rose about as far as Kevin fell — from #141 and #128 in 1996 to #264 and #9 in 2024.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Kevin and Oscar were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 67 years, from 1953 to 2025, ending at #186 and #51.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys67 shared years, 1953–2025

    Kevin held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Oscar in 26.

    Highest recorded here: Kevin #44 in 2002, Oscar #35 in 2013.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Kevin #186, Oscar #51.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys38 shared years, 1969–2025

    Kevin held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Oscar in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Kevin #11 in 1993, Oscar #30 in 2021.

    The order changed in 2012: Oscar moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #58 and #62; by 2012 that had become #70 and #61.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Kevin #139, Oscar #31.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024

    Kevin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oscar in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Kevin #141 in 1996, Oscar #7 in 2013.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Kevin #264, Oscar #9.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1999–2024

    Kevin held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Oscar in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Kevin #61 in 1999, Oscar #24 in 2014.

    The order changed in 2009: Oscar moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #101 and #118; by 2009 that had become #100 and #91.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Kevin #164, Oscar #34.

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 Oscar

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

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — repeatedly exchanged positions.

All repeatedly exchanged positions→

Other pairs from Norway lists

Pairs measured inside Norway's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Norway overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Kevin, Oscar
FieldKevinOscar
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
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.Possibly 'deer friend' (Irish), or possibly derived from an Old English/Old Norse name meaning 'god spear' — the origin is genuinely disputed.
OriginIrishDisputed — possibly Irish, possibly Old English/Old Norse
Pronunciation/ˈkɛv.ɪn//ˈɑskər/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #139 (2025)New South Wales, Australia · Boys #17 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Kevin is recorded with a Irish origin, while Oscar is recorded with a Disputed — possibly Irish, possibly Old English/Old Norse origin.
  • Kevin and Oscar both have 2 syllables.
  • Kevin's recorded meaning differs from Oscar'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

  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

Oscar

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #263 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1996–2024

    Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in England and Wales, in 2013 (recorded 1996–2024).

    England and Wales · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #17 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys