Kevin vs Ronald
Kevin and Ronaldcompared 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 1969, Kevin was ranked #36 and Ronald #98 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2000, Kevin was ranked #48 and Ronald #569 among boys in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1972, Kevin was ranked #52 and Ronald #88 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Kevin was ranked #70 and Ronald #718 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kevin was ranked #264 and Ronald #796 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kevin was ranked #432 and Ronald #619 among boys in Scotland.
Kevin and Ronald over time
Kevin and Ronald appear together in 5 published lists, across 134 years of shared records. Kevin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Ronald in 1.
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.
Ronald reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Kevin in 1. 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 1953, Kevin moved ahead of Ronald in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #26 and #24 the year before became #21 and #26.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Kevin and Ronald averaged 20.6 places apart, ending at #52 and #88.
- Longest-running competitions
Kevin and Ronald were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 35 years, from 1953 to 2000, ending at #48 and #569.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Kevin #8 in 1954, Ronald #36 in 1954.
List by list
Norway · Boys35 shared years, 1953–2000
Kevin held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Ronald in 19.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #48 in 2000, Ronald #149 in 1958.
The order changed in 1975: Kevin moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #250 and #245; by 1975 that had become #207 and #308.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Kevin #48, Ronald #569.
Republic of Ireland · Boys34 shared years, 1964–2012
Kevin held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Ronald in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #11 in 1987, Ronald #89 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Kevin #70, Ronald #718.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kevin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Ronald in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #141 in 1996, Ronald #564 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kevin #264, Ronald #796.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys21 shared years, 1952–1972
Kevin held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Ronald in 1.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #15 in 1956, Ronald #24 in 1952.
The order changed in 1953: Kevin moved ahead. In 1952 they stood at #26 and #24; by 1953 that had become #21 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Kevin #52, Ronald #88.
New Zealand · Boys15 shared years, 1954–1969
Kevin held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Ronald in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #8 in 1954, Ronald #36 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Kevin #36, Ronald #98.
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 | Ronald |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #139 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #619 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| 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 has a recorded origin (Irish); Ronald does not have one recorded yet.
- Kevin and Ronald both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kevin; Ronald doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, 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
Ronald
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #202 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1972
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1972).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #796 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys