Updated February 8, 2024

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Boy name origins & meanings

  • English: Royal obligation
  • Irish: Handsome
  • Scottish: Good-looking, fair
  • Gaelic: Gentle; lovable

What does Kevin mean and stand for?

The name Kevin is of Irish origin and means "handsome." It is derived from the Irish name Caoimhín, which originated from the elements coém, meaning “handsome” and gein, meaning “birth.”

Syllables: 2

Discover more baby name meanings to learn what's behind every name. 

Boy name variations

Kenneth

Kenneth

- 5% this year
Masculine
Common
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Ken

Ken

- 6% this year
Neutral
Rare
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Kennet

Kennet

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Kenny

Kenny

+ 1% this year
Neutral
Rare
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Kenney

Kenney

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Kenn

Kenn

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Kevan

Kevan

- 13% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Keven

Keven

+ 6% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Kev

Kev

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Kevon

Kevon

- 12% this year
Masculine
Rare
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How Popular Is The Name Kevin

Family name origins & meanings

  • Irish: Anglicized form of Ó Caoimhín ‘descent of Caoimhín’ (Kevin), a byname representing a diminutive of Gaelic caomh ‘comely’, ‘beloved’. This was the name of a 7th-century saint who is one of the patrons of Dublin.

Famous people who gave their babies this name

Popularity of the name Kevin 

According to Social Security Administration data, Kevin has slowly been decreasing in popularity, falling out of the top 150 for the first time in 2020. Kevin maintained a spot in the top 50 until 2009 and the top 100 until 2016.

However, it is the 34th most popular name on FamilyEducation.com.

According to Google search data analysis, Kevin was at its peak popularity in September 2019.

Kevin has been popular since the 7th century, with Saint Kevin who founded a scholastic monastery near Dublin. He was even made one of the patron saints for the city later on. Despite the slight decline of Kevin, it has so many notable namesakes: Kevin James, Kevin Bacon, Kevin Costner, Kevin Wayne Durant, Kevin Heart, and Kevin Jonas. Jimmy Kimmel chose the name for his son. Kevin has also made a few appearances in pop culture, with characters in Up, Home Alone, American Pie, White Chicks, Ed, Edd n Eddy, and Riverdale.

Where is the name Kevin popular?

Kevin was searched for most often in the following states:

Nicknames for Kevin

  • Kev
  • Kevy
  • Vin
  • Vinny

Kevin pairs well with these middle names

Meaning and Origin of Kevin