Boy
Irish Gaelic
2 syllables
Kevin
KEV-in
/ˈkɛv.ɪn/
"Gentle and kind" — an Irish saint's name that became a generation's classic
Kevin is the anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic Caoimhin, meaning gentle, kind, or handsome. Saint Kevin of Glendalough was a 6th-century Irish hermit whose legend describes a blackbird laying eggs in his outstretched hand — he remained motionless until they hatched. The name surged in the US and UK during the 1950s-70s as Irish names became fashionable and is strongly associated with the Baby Boomer and Generation X eras.
Quick Facts
Letters5
SyllablesKev · in
GenderBoy
OriginIrish Gaelic
Root WordCaoimhin
MeaningGentle, kind, handsome
PopularityUncommon
Peak Year1965
Trend
→ Stable
Name DayJune 3
Nicknames
Kev
About the Name Kevin
Kevin means gentle, kind, and handsome in Irish Gaelic, from Caoimhin (pronounced Kwee-veen). It combines caomh (kind, gentle) with a diminutive suffix.
Yes, Kevin is the anglicized form of the Irish Caoimhin. Saint Kevin of Glendalough is one of Ireland's most beloved saints.
Kevin was extremely popular from the 1950s through the 1980s but has declined significantly. It is now outside the top 300 in the US, strongly associated with the Gen X generation.
Kevin James, Kevin Michael, Kevin Patrick, and Kevin Thomas are all classic and naturally flowing combinations.
Saint Kevin (Caoimhin) was a 6th-century Irish hermit who founded Glendalough monastery. In the most famous legend, a blackbird laid eggs in his hand while he prayed and he remained still until they hatched.
Kevins are often described as friendly, approachable, and dependable — the name carries a reliable, down-to-earth quality associated with its peak generation.
Personality of Kevin
Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Kevin
Creativity
72%
Elegance
68%
Independence
74%
Intelligence
76%
Strength
76%
Warmth
80%
Famous People Named Kevin
K
Kevin Bacon
American actor, Footloose and Mystic River
K
Kevin Hart
American comedian and actor
S
Saint Kevin of Glendalough
6th-century Irish hermit, patron of Glendalough
Middle Names for Kevin
Beautiful combinations that flow well with Kevin
Kevin James
Kevin Michael
Kevin Patrick
Kevin Thomas
Kevin Lee
Kevin John
Kevin Allen
Kevin Scott
Kevin Wayne
Kevin Joseph
Names Similar to Kevin
Similar Sound
Similar Meaning
Sibling Name Ideas
History of Kevin
498 AD
Saint Kevin born; founds his monastery at Glendalough in County Wicklow
618 AD
Saint Kevin dies aged 120, according to legend; Glendalough becomes a pilgrimage site
1955
Kevin enters the US top 20, driven by Irish-American naming trends
1965
Kevin reaches peak US popularity at rank 12
Numerology & Symbolism of Kevin
7
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
5
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
♍
Zodiac Affinity
Gemini
2
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Emerald Green
💎
Lucky Stone
Jade
🌸
Lucky Flower
Shamrock
Kevin Around the World
How Kevin is written in different languages and scripts
كيفن
Arabic
ケビン
Japanese
Кевин
Russian
케빈
Korean
凯文
Chinese
Κέβιν
Greek
केविन
Hindi
קֵבִין
Hebrew
Looking for Name Ideas?
Explore our name inspiration guides