Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Kevin has Irish origins, derived from 'Caoimhín', meaning gentle or beloved. It evolved from historical forms such as Caoimhín and has become widely popular in the 20th century. The name is associated with positive traits and does not have biblical relevance.
Etymology & Cultural Background
Pronunciation
/ˈkɛvɪn/
Origin
Irish
Etymology
The name Kevin is derived from the Irish name 'Caoimhín', which is composed of the elements 'caomh', meaning 'gentle, kind, or beloved', and the diminutive suffix '-ín'.
Meaning
gentle, kind, beloved
Language Evolution
Caoimhín, Caoimhe, Kevin
Historical Usage
Kevin gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 20th century, particularly in the mid-1900s, and became a common name in various countries.
Variants & Derivatives
Kev, Kenny, Keven
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Kevin is viewed as a classic name that conveys friendliness and approachability. It has maintained a steady level of popularity in various cultures.
Famous People
Kevin Spacey, Kevin Hart, Kevin Bacon, Kevin Durant
📊 Trend Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Name Visualizations
Key Insights
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 30,732 peak births in 1963
Geographic Spread
Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in District of Columbia
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 13 different American generations with varying popularity
🔊 Alternative Spellings & Similar Sounds (7 Variations)
Explore names that share identical pronunciation with different spellings. These variations offer alternative options for parents seeking unique yet familiar-sounding choices. This curated collection includes 7 carefully selected variations that maintain the same phonetic sound while providing distinct spelling options.
Why consider alternative spellings? Different spellings can offer unique cultural significance or personal preference while maintaining the familiar sound. This collection covers various spelling patterns, helping you find variations that match your preferences.
Historical Birth Statistics
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History
Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1187th of 7545 | 573 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 344th of 6773 | 4,934 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 27th of 7552 | 312,718 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 16th of 10718 | 356,017 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 21st of 16616 | 297,872 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 35th of 24088 | 169,267 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 112th of 23106 | 41,493 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 5416th of 9204 | 43 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1249th of 12526 | 1,302 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1012th of 19264 | 1,962 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1487th of 27321 | 1,562 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 5148th of 35406 | 398 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 13812th of 30306 | 66 |
Regional Popularity by Generation - Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
55.72% 789th/1416 |
36.69% 506th/1379 |
- |
65.67% 750th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
24.51% 379th/1546 |
9.32% 145th/1556 |
69.06% 1625th/2353 |
23.85% 369th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
1.08% 24th/2227 |
0.99% 24th/2430 |
1.68% 48th/2853 |
0.94% 26th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
0.61% 18th/2937 |
0.52% 18th/3483 |
0.34% 12th/3518 |
0.47% 19th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
0.71% 26th/3685 |
0.38% 17th/4475 |
0.40% 21st/5194 |
0.32% 20th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
1.33% 61st/4582 |
0.50% 26th/5164 |
0.55% 40th/7313 |
0.40% 30th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
4.07% 162nd/3984 |
2.23% 100th/4487 |
1.67% 114th/6822 |
1.56% 98th/6276 |
Regional Popularity by Generation - Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
51.10% 1138th/2227 |
49.22% 1196th/2430 |
54.05% 1542nd/2853 |
40.29% 1118th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
35.82% 1052nd/2937 |
29.20% 1017th/3483 |
32.72% 1151st/3518 |
29.53% 1194th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
37.10% 1367th/3685 |
29.88% 1337th/4475 |
31.54% 1638th/5194 |
22.46% 1419th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
86.77% 4481st/5164 |
62.57% 4576th/7313 |
44.59% 3328th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity
This map shows relative popularity across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.
Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends in the United States
This name shows strongest popularity in District of Columbia across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been gradually declining. From 2020-2022, usage has been falling for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, too falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, too falling for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been too rising for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, too rising for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, too rising for male in South, stalled for female in South, too rising for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, popularity patterns vary significantly: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1187th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 344th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 27th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 16th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 21st out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 35th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 112th out of 23106 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 5416th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1249th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1012th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1487th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 5148th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 13812th out of 30306 names. Explore how this name has evolved through American history with comprehensive regional and generational analysis.