Kevin vs Ross
Kevin and Rosscompared 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 1983, Kevin was ranked #76 and Ross #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1985, Kevin was ranked #83 and Ross #96 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Kevin was ranked #139 and Ross #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Kevin was ranked #207 and Ross #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kevin was ranked #264 and Ross #3254 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kevin was ranked #432 and Ross #307 among boys in Scotland.
Kevin and Ross over time
Kevin and Ross appear together in 5 published lists, across 174 years of shared records. Kevin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Ross 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.
Kevin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Ross 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 2005, Kevin moved ahead of Ross in England and Wales · Boys — #182 and #161 the year before became #177 and #193.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kevin and Ross changed places 7 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2022, ending at #207 and #414.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Kevin and Ross averaged 22.4 places apart, ending at #76 and #86.
- Longest-running competitions
Kevin and Ross were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 30 years, from 1954 to 1985, ending at #83 and #96.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Kevin #141 in 1996, Ross #60 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Kevin held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Ross in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #11 in 1987, Ross #39 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kevin #139, Ross #329.
New Zealand · Boys30 shared years, 1954–1985
Kevin held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Ross in 2.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #8 in 1954, Ross #25 in 1957.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Kevin #83, Ross #96.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kevin held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Ross in 9.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #141 in 1996, Ross #60 in 1997.
The order changed in 2005: Kevin moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #182 and #161; by 2005 that had become #177 and #193.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kevin #264, Ross #3254.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1952–1983
Kevin held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Ross in 1.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #15 in 1956, Ross #34 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Kevin #76, Ross #86.
Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1997–2022
Kevin held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Ross in 15.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #60 in 1998, Ross #30 in 1997.
The order changed in 2021: Kevin moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #270 and #231; by 2021 that had become #192 and #433.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Kevin #207, Ross #414.
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 | Ross |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #139 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (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); Ross does not have one recorded yet.
- Kevin has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Ross.
- A meaning is recorded for Kevin; Ross doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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
Ross
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #36 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 recorded1954–1985
Highest recorded position: #25 among boys in New Zealand, in 1957 (recorded 1954–1985).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys