Kevin vs Tony
Kevin and Tonycompared 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 1989, Kevin was ranked #73 and Tony #65 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1987, Kevin was ranked #83 and Tony #92 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2020, Kevin was ranked #105 and Tony #438 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Kevin was ranked #139 and Tony #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Kevin was ranked #192 and Tony #249 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Kevin was ranked #292 and Tony #1466 among boys in England and Wales.
Kevin and Tony over time
Kevin and Tony appear together in 6 published lists, across 243 years of shared records. Kevin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Tony in 2.
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 2 of those lists, Tony 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 1969, Tony moved ahead of Kevin in New Zealand · Boys — #26 and #30 the year before became #36 and #26.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kevin and Tony changed places 8 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1987, ending at #83 and #92.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Kevin and Tony averaged 26.3 places apart, ending at #83 and #92.
- Longest-running competitions
Kevin and Tony were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #292 and #1466.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Kevin #141 in 1996, Tony #167 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys62 shared years, 1955–2020
Kevin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Tony in 33.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #44 in 2002, Tony #119 in 1993.
The order changed in 1989: Kevin moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #147 and #124; by 1989 that had become #112 and #170.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Kevin #105, Tony #438.
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1967–2025
Kevin held the stronger position in 57 of those years, Tony in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #11 in 1987, Tony #150 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kevin #139, Tony #372.
New Zealand · Boys36 shared years, 1954–1989
Kevin held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Tony in 21.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #8 in 1954, Tony #22 in 1967.
The order changed in 1969: Tony moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #26 and #30; by 1969 that had become #36 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 1989: Kevin #73, Tony #65.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys34 shared years, 1952–1987
Kevin held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Tony in 6.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #15 in 1956, Tony #55 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Kevin #83, Tony #92.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Kevin held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Tony in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #141 in 1996, Tony #167 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kevin #292, Tony #1466.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2021
Kevin held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Tony in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kevin #60 in 1998, Tony #144 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Kevin #192, Tony #249.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Kevin
Pairs where Kevin shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Kevin vs Ronny
Over 52 shared years in Norway · Boys, Kevin rose about as far as Ronny fell — from #369 and #231 in 1953 to #62 and #515 in 2011.
Kevin · Ronny · 52 shared years, 1953–2011 · Mirrored each other
- Brian vs Kevin
Brian and Kevin changed places 15 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1984, ending at #96 and #70.
Brian · Kevin · 33 shared years, 1952–1984 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Kevin vs Kristoffer
Kevin and Kristoffer changed places 15 times in Norway · Boys between 1953 and 2025, ending at #186 and #187.
Kevin · Kristoffer · 71 shared years, 1953–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Kevin vs Marcus
Kevin and Marcus changed places 14 times in Norway · Boys between 1963 and 2025, ending at #186 and #150.
Kevin · Marcus · 62 shared years, 1963–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other comparisons involving Tony
Pairs where Tony shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Tony vs Brent
Tony and Brent changed places 13 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1987, ending at #58 and #97.
Tony · Brent · 34 shared years, 1954–1987 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Gregory vs Tony
Gregory and Tony changed places 13 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1988, ending at #76 and #71.
Gregory · Tony · 35 shared years, 1954–1988 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Jason vs Tony
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Jason #1 in 1971, Tony #55 in 1969.
Jason · Tony · 22 shared years, 1964–1987 · Peaked in the same years
- Dean vs Tony
Across 36 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Dean and Tony averaged 10.8 places apart, ending at #92 and #90.
Dean · Tony · 36 shared years, 1956–1991 · Closest over the longest run
Side by side
| Field | Kevin | Tony |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #139 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #372 (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); Tony does not have one recorded yet.
- Kevin and Tony both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Kevin; Tony doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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 #292 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Tony
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #96 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 recorded1954–1991
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in New Zealand, in 1967 (recorded 1954–1991).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1466 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys