Kevin vs Steven
Kevin and Stevencompared 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 2000, Kevin was ranked #67 and Steven #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1997, Kevin was ranked #84 and Steven #77 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2017, Kevin was ranked #106 and Steven #487 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Kevin was ranked #139 and Steven #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Kevin was ranked #207 and Steven #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kevin was ranked #264 and Steven #800 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kevin was ranked #432 and Steven #307 among boys in Scotland.
Kevin and Steven over time
Kevin and Steven appear together in 6 published lists, across 258 years of shared records. Kevin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Steven in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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, Steven 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 2006, Kevin moved ahead of Steven in England and Wales · Boys — #177 and #171 the year before became #172 and #178.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 49 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Kevin and Steven averaged 29.4 places apart, ending at #67 and #84.
- Longest-running competitions
Kevin and Steven were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 49 years, from 1952 to 2000, ending at #67 and #84.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Kevin #141 in 1996, Steven #73 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Kevin held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Steven in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #11 in 1987, Steven #57 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kevin #139, Steven #829.
Norway · Boys57 shared years, 1955–2017
Kevin held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Steven in 13.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #44 in 2002, Steven #224 in 1983.
The order changed in 1971: Kevin moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #462 and #364; by 1971 that had become #363 and #402.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Kevin #106, Steven #487.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys49 shared years, 1952–2000
Kevin held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Steven in 39.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #15 in 1956, Steven #12 in 1961.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Kevin #67, Steven #84.
New Zealand · Boys38 shared years, 1954–1997
Kevin held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Steven in 27.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #8 in 1954, Steven #15 in 1967.
The order changed in 1965: Steven moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #16 and #21; by 1965 that had become #21 and #19.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Kevin #84, Steven #77.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kevin held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Steven in 10.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #141 in 1996, Steven #73 in 1996.
The order changed in 2006: Kevin moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #177 and #171; by 2006 that had become #172 and #178.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kevin #264, Steven #800.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
Kevin held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Steven in 2.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #60 in 1998, Steven #54 in 1998.
The order changed in 1999: Kevin moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #60 and #54; by 1999 that had become #61 and #82.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Kevin #207, Steven #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 | Steven |
|---|---|---|
| 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-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #139 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| 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); Steven does not have one recorded yet.
- Kevin and Steven both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kevin; Steven doesn't have one written yet.
- 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
Steven
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #363 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2000
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1961 (recorded 1952–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys