UK boy's name
Kevins
Anglicized variation of the Irish name Caoimhín meaning "kind, handsome birth".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kevins is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kevins popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 9 births.
This profile covers 53 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 2010 to 2021. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 33% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 56 living people in the UK are called Kevins. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kevins ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 9 boys were registered as Kevins.
- • Kevins ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #638 in 2010.
- • About 56 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kevins as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2021
Births in 2021
3
Latest year
Peak year
2011
9 births
Estimated living
56
2026
Meaning
What does Kevins mean?
The name Kevins originated in the late 12th century as a Cornish form of the Welsh name Cyndylan. It is derived from the Brythonic elements "kin" meaning chief or leader, and "tu" meaning people or land. The name was initially found in the region of Cornwall, located in the southwest of Britain.
In the early 13th century, the name appeared in Latin records as "Kenewinus" and "Kenwinus," indicating its widespread usage in medieval Cornwall. Some scholars believe the name may have been influenced by the Irish name Caoimhín, which shares a similar pronunciation but has a different etymology.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name Kevins was Kevins of Gweek, a 13th-century Cornish landowner and minor nobleman mentioned in various medieval charters and records. Another notable figure was Kevins of Penryn, a 14th-century Cornish merchant and shipowner who played a role in the tin trade with France and the Netherlands.
In the 15th century, the name Kevins gained recognition through Sir Kevins Trevilian, a prominent Cornish soldier and landowner who fought in the Wars of the Roses. He was knighted by King Edward IV in 1471 for his loyalty and military service.
During the 16th century, Kevins Carmynow, a Cornish lawyer and member of the Parliament of England, became a notable figure. He was actively involved in the legal and political affairs of his time, representing the interests of Cornwall.
In the 17th century, Kevins Gwinear, a Cornish clergyman and scholar, gained recognition for his contributions to the study of Cornish language and culture. He published several works documenting the history and traditions of Cornwall, helping to preserve its unique heritage.
It is important to note that while the name Kevins has its roots in Cornwall, it has since been adopted and used in various parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries. However, the historical references and examples provided here focus on the earliest recorded instances and notable figures associated with the name within its region of origin.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kevins over time
The chart below shows babies named Kevins registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2010 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kevins, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kevins by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kevins was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4699 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010s | #3523 | 47 | 9 |
Geography
Where Kevins is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Kevins. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Kevins ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #638 in 2010.
Across the UK
Kevins in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#638 in 2010
1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered
Related
Names similar to Kevins
- Kieran 30,429
- Kyle 28,463
- Kai 24,432
- Kian 17,666
- Kayden 8,305
- Kevin 7,927
- Kane 7,149
- Kaiden 5,762
- Kieron 4,547
- Kacper 4,366
- Kye 4,012
- Kit 3,529
FAQ
Kevins: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kevins in the UK right now?
In 2021, Kevins was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Kevins most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 9 babies registered as Kevins in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kevins?
Anglicized variation of the Irish name Caoimhín meaning "kind, handsome birth".
How many people are called Kevins in the UK?
A total of 53 babies have been registered as Kevins across the 11 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.
Where is Kevins most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Kevins ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #638 in 2010. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.