Kevin vs Stephen
Kevin and Stephencompared 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2001, Kevin was ranked #58 and Stephen #522 among boys in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Kevin was ranked #66 and Stephen #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1997, Kevin was ranked #84 and Stephen #95 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Kevin was ranked #139 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Kevin was ranked #164 and Stephen #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kevin was ranked #264 and Stephen #651 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kevin was ranked #432 and Stephen #535 among boys in Scotland.
Kevin and Stephen over time
Kevin and Stephen appear together in 6 published lists, across 245 years of shared records. Stephen held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Kevin in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Stephen 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 2007, Kevin moved ahead of Stephen in England and Wales · Boys — #172 and #159 the year before became #167 and #181.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kevin and Stephen changed places 5 times in Norway · Boys between 1953 and 2001, ending at #58 and #522.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 46 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Kevin and Stephen averaged 30.8 places apart, ending at #66 and #100.
- Mirrored each other
Over 43 shared years in Norway · Boys, Kevin rose about as far as Stephen fell — from #369 and #321 in 1953 to #58 and #522 in 2001.
- Longest-running competitions
Kevin and Stephen were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 46 years, from 1952 to 1997, ending at #66 and #100.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Kevin #141 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Kevin held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Stephen in 36.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #11 in 1987, Stephen #4 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kevin #139, Stephen #232.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys46 shared years, 1952–1997
Kevin held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Stephen in 42.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #15 in 1956, Stephen #3 in 1955.
The order changed in 1996: Kevin moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #78 and #76; by 1996 that had become #63 and #89.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Kevin #66, Stephen #100.
Norway · Boys43 shared years, 1953–2001
Kevin held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Stephen in 16.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #48 in 2000, Stephen #210 in 1956.
The order changed in 1973: Kevin moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #477 and #304; by 1973 that had become #245 and #396.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Kevin #58, Stephen #522.
New Zealand · Boys38 shared years, 1954–1997
Kevin held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Stephen in 37.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #8 in 1954, Stephen #5 in 1958.
The order changed in 1997: Kevin moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #97 and #56; by 1997 that had become #84 and #95.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Kevin #84, Stephen #95.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kevin held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Stephen in 11.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #141 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.
The order changed in 2007: Kevin moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #172 and #159; by 2007 that had become #167 and #181.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kevin #264, Stephen #651.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Kevin held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Stephen in 21.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #60 in 1998, Stephen #21 in 1998.
The order changed in 2021: Kevin moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #270 and #152; by 2021 that had become #192 and #226.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kevin #164, Stephen #305.
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 | Stephen |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Greek Stephanos, meaning 'crown, wreath' — literally 'that which surrounds'. Saint Stephen, a deacon stoned to death in the New Testament, is regarded as the first Christian martyr. |
| Origin | Irish | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɛv.ɪn/ | /ˈstiː.vən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Steven, Stefan, Stephan |
| 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 | high |
What the data shows
- Kevin is recorded with a Irish origin, while Stephen is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Kevin and Stephen both have 2 syllables.
- Kevin's recorded meaning differs from Stephen's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Kevin a "medium" Data Confidence level and Stephen a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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
Stephen
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #352 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1997
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1955 (recorded 1952–1997).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys