Kevin

/ˈkɛv.ɪn/

The name Kevin is an anglicization of the Irish name Caoimhín, derived from the Old Irish Caemín, itself from caomh (“gentle,” “handsome,” or “kind”) and a diminutive suffix, giving the approximate meaning “little gentle 1” or “handsome by birth.” The

US Rank

No. 196

Births

1,822

Peak Year

1963

name is deeply rooted in Irish hagiographic tradition through Saint Kevin of Glendalough (died approximately 618 AD), one of the most venerated early medieval Irish saints.

Saint Kevin founded the monastery of Glendalough in County Wicklow, Ireland, which became one of the most important centers of Christian learning in early medieval Europe.

What the name Kevin means

The monastery complex, established in a dramatic glacial valley, attracted pilgrims and scholars from across the continent.

Glendalough remains a major heritage site and place of pilgrimage in Ireland today. Saint Kevin’s feast day is celebrated on June 3.

The anglicized form Kevin spread beyond Ireland primarily through Irish emigration in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Irish immigrant communities in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia carried the name with them, and it gradually entered mainstream usage in English-speaking countries beyond its Irish homeland.

By the mid-20th century, Kevin had lost its exclusively Irish identity and become broadly popular across demographic groups.

In the United States, Kevin ranked in the top 20 for boys from the 1950s through the 1980s, representing one of the most successful crossover names from ethnic to mainstream American usage.

It peaked in the 1960s when it ranked as high as 4th nationally. By 2024, Kevin ranked in the top 200, still in regular use across generations.

The name carries a distinct mid-century American flavor while retaining its Irish roots.

Cultural references are abundant: Kevin Bacon (born 1958), Kevin Costner (born 1955), and the fictional character Kevin McCallister from Home Alone (1990) have all contributed to the name’s embedded place in popular culture.