Kevin vs Robert
Kevin and Robertcompared 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 1999, Kevin was ranked #94 and Robert #50 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2001, Kevin was ranked #98 and Robert #80 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kevin was ranked #432 and Robert #80 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Kevin was ranked #164 and Robert #93 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Kevin was ranked #139 and Robert #104 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kevin was ranked #264 and Robert #151 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Kevin was ranked #186 and Robert #363 among boys in Norway.
Kevin and Robert over time
Kevin and Robert appear together in 6 published lists, across 278 years of shared records. Robert held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Kevin in 0.
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.
Robert reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1993, Kevin moved ahead of Robert in Norway · Boys — #72 and #60 the year before became #61 and #66.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kevin and Robert changed places 9 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #139 and #104.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 50 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Kevin and Robert averaged 35.0 places apart, ending at #98 and #80.
- Longest-running competitions
Kevin and Robert were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 50 years, from 1952 to 2001, ending at #98 and #80.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Kevin #141 in 1996, Robert #30 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys71 shared years, 1953–2025
Kevin held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Robert in 38.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #44 in 2002, Robert #25 in 1974.
The order changed in 1993: Kevin moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #72 and #60; by 1993 that had become #61 and #66.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kevin #186, Robert #363.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Kevin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Robert in 33.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #11 in 1987, Robert #12 in 1978.
The order changed in 2001: Robert moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #25 and #37; by 2001 that had become #36 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kevin #139, Robert #104.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys50 shared years, 1952–2001
Kevin held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Robert in 48.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #15 in 1956, Robert #3 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Kevin #98, Robert #80.
New Zealand · Boys39 shared years, 1954–1999
Kevin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 39.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #8 in 1954, Robert #5 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Kevin #94, Robert #50.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kevin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 29.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #141 in 1996, Robert #30 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kevin #264, Robert #151.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Kevin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 27.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #60 in 1998, Robert #35 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kevin #164, Robert #93.
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 | Robert |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Germanic Hrodebert, combining 'hruod' (fame) with 'beraht' (bright) — 'bright fame'. Introduced to Britain by the Normans, later borne by Robert the Bruce. |
| Origin | Irish | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɛv.ɪn/ | /ˈɹɑb.əɹt/ |
| 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 #104 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kevin is recorded with a Irish origin, while Robert is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Kevin and Robert both have 2 syllables.
- Kevin's recorded meaning differs from Robert'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
Robert
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #126 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #363 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys