Kevin vs Richard
Kevin and Richardcompared 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 1997, Kevin was ranked #66 and Richard #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1999, Kevin was ranked #94 and Richard #81 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Kevin was ranked #139 and Richard #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, Kevin was ranked #149 and Richard #481 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Kevin was ranked #207 and Richard #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Kevin was ranked #292 and Richard #431 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kevin was ranked #432 and Richard #619 among boys in Scotland.
Kevin and Richard over time
Kevin and Richard appear together in 6 published lists, across 270 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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, Richard 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 2006, Kevin moved ahead of Richard in England and Wales · Boys — #177 and #172 the year before became #172 and #188.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kevin and Richard changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1997, ending at #66 and #98.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 46 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Kevin and Richard averaged 21.9 places apart, ending at #66 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
Kevin and Richard were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #292 and #431.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Kevin #141 in 1996, Richard #62 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys69 shared years, 1953–2023
Kevin held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Richard in 35.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #44 in 2002, Richard #80 in 1979.
The order changed in 1990: Kevin moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #112 and #108; by 1990 that had become #116 and #126.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Kevin #149, Richard #481.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Kevin held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Richard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #11 in 1987, Richard #20 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kevin #139, Richard #232.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys46 shared years, 1952–1997
Kevin held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Richard in 36.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #15 in 1956, Richard #16 in 1960.
The order changed in 1993: Kevin moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #71 and #67; by 1993 that had become #59 and #79.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Kevin #66, Richard #98.
New Zealand · Boys39 shared years, 1954–1999
Kevin held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Richard in 31.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #8 in 1954, Richard #9 in 1965.
The order changed in 1963: Richard moved ahead. In 1962 they stood at #11 and #12; by 1963 that had become #13 and #10.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Kevin #94, Richard #81.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Kevin held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Richard in 10.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #141 in 1996, Richard #62 in 1996.
The order changed in 2006: Kevin moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #177 and #172; by 2006 that had become #172 and #188.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kevin #292, Richard #431.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
Kevin held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Richard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #60 in 1998, Richard #77 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Kevin #207, Richard #311.
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 | Richard |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | From Old German elements 'rih' (ruler, king) and 'hart' (hard, firm, brave, hardy) — 'brave ruler'. Introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century. |
| Origin | Irish | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɛv.ɪn/ | /ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/ |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kevin is recorded with a Irish origin, while Richard is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Kevin and Richard both have 2 syllables.
- Kevin's recorded meaning differs from Richard'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 #292 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Richard
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #219 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #431 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys