Kevin vs Ruben
Kevin and Rubencompared 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 Ruben #126 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kevin was ranked #432 and Ruben #130 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Kevin was ranked #139 and Ruben #188 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Kevin was ranked #164 and Ruben #256 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Kevin was ranked #186 and Ruben #269 among boys in Norway.
Kevin and Ruben over time
Kevin and Ruben appear together in 4 published lists, across 141 years of shared records. Kevin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Ruben 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 3 of those lists, Ruben 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 2018, Ruben moved ahead of Kevin in England and Wales · Boys — #145 and #159 the year before became #162 and #132.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kevin and Ruben changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #264 and #126.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Ruben rose about as far as Kevin fell — from #141 and #419 in 1996 to #264 and #126 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Kevin and Ruben were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 66 years, from 1953 to 2025, ending at #186 and #269.
List by list
Norway · Boys66 shared years, 1953–2025
Kevin held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Ruben in 26.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #44 in 2002, Ruben #52 in 1995.
The order changed in 1997: Kevin moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #63 and #53; by 1997 that had become #50 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kevin #186, Ruben #269.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kevin held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Ruben in 16.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #141 in 1996, Ruben #110 in 2021.
The order changed in 2018: Ruben moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #145 and #159; by 2018 that had become #162 and #132.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kevin #264, Ruben #126.
Republic of Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1976–2025
Kevin held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Ruben in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #16 in 1976, Ruben #178 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kevin #139, Ruben #188.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 2004–2024
Kevin held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Ruben in 3.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #85 in 2005, Ruben #163 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kevin #164, Ruben #256.
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 | Ruben |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #139 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #188 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kevin has a recorded origin (Irish); Ruben does not have one recorded yet.
- Kevin and Ruben both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kevin; Ruben doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
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
Ruben
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #349 among boys in Norway in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1953–2025
Highest recorded position: #52 among boys in Norway, in 1995 (recorded 1953–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #269 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys