Kevin first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Kevin has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Kevin

Masculine name of Irish origin derived from the old Celtic term "cuifin" meaning birth.

Popularity of Kevin by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Kevin is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Kevin being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,914 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Kevin.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 1,914 0
2022 2,060 0
2021 2,103 0
2020 2,375 8
2019 2,621 0
2018 3,142 0
2017 3,829 9
2016 4,549 6
2015 5,181 14
2014 5,899 14
2013 5,941 10
2012 6,231 7
2011 6,567 15
2010 7,326 7
2009 8,778 21
2008 9,796 11
2007 10,536 23
2006 10,779 27
2005 10,915 31
2004 11,220 46
2003 11,733 28
2002 12,045 31
2001 12,593 36
2000 12,671 31
1999 12,257 35
1998 12,509 16
1997 13,293 33
1996 14,586 35
1995 15,858 59
1994 17,310 57
1993 19,083 53
1992 19,642 59
1991 20,260 81
1990 20,412 71
1989 21,209 99
1988 20,167 116
1987 20,415 142
1986 19,936 146
1985 18,813 147
1984 17,864 124
1983 17,380 145
1982 17,464 118
1981 17,456 111
1980 17,980 117
1979 18,737 120
1978 20,103 105
1977 22,465 149
1976 18,482 113
1975 18,076 106
1974 19,466 127

The history of the first name Kevin

The name Kevin has its origins in the ancient Celtic language and culture. The name is derived from the Irish-Gaelic word "caomhán," which means "descendant of the noble birth." It is also believed to have been derived from the Old Irish name "Cóemgein," meaning "birth of the fair one."

The earliest recorded use of the name Kevin dates back to the 6th century AD, when it was borne by the Irish saint and patron of the Glendalough monastery, St. Kevin. Born around 498 AD, St. Kevin is revered for his ascetic lifestyle and his devotion to the Christian faith. His feast day is celebrated on June 3rd in the Catholic Church.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Kevin saw limited use primarily within Ireland and among Irish communities abroad. It wasn't until the 19th century that the name began to gain popularity outside of Ireland. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Kevin O'Doherty, an Irish poet and chieftain who lived in the 15th century.

The name Kevin gained broader recognition in the early 20th century, particularly after the publication of the novel "The Waves" by Virginia Woolf in 1931, which featured a character named Kevin. Around the same time, Kevin Barry, an Irish revolutionary and soldier, became a prominent figure in the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921).

Another notable bearer of the name was Kevin Kline, the American actor born in 1947, who is known for his roles in films such as "A Fish Called Wanda," "The Big Chill," and "Sophie's Choice." In the literary world, Kevin Brownlow, born in 1938, is a renowned British filmmaker and film historian known for his work in preserving and restoring silent films.

The name Kevin also has a strong association with sports. Kevin McHale, born in 1957, was a professional basketball player and coach who played for the Boston Celtics and won three NBA championships. Kevin Keegan, born in 1951, is a famous English football player and manager who played for Liverpool and captained the England national team.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Kevin was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kevin, please contact us.

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"Kevin first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 4, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/kevin-meaning-and-history/.

"Kevin first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/kevin-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 4 December, 2024

Kevin first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/kevin-meaning-and-history/.

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