Boy · Irish · Christian · International
Kevin
KevinSay it KEV-in
- Meaning today
- Handsome, gentle, kind
- Original meaning
- "fair-begotten (Old Irish Cóemgen)" Catholic Encyclopedia, s.v. Coemgen, Saint
- Say it
- KEV-in
- Other spellings
- Kevan
Kevin
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Kevin meaning
Kevin is a Christian and international boy's name of Irish origin.
Fair-begotten (Old Irish Cóemgen)
Also used to mean: handsome, gentle, kind
Kevin is the English form of Irish Caoimhín, from the Old Irish name Cóemgen. The Catholic Encyclopedia explains it as "fair-begotten": the first part means fair, gentle or dear, which is why name lists offer "handsome" and "gentle", and the second means birth. Its great bearer is Saint Kevin of Glendalough, a sixth-century hermit of the Wicklow mountains who founded the monastery at Glendalough, one of Ireland's best-loved pilgrim places. The name is used by Christian families in Kerala, Goa and Mangalore.
Source: Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), s.v. Coemgen, Saint · entry Coemgen · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Catholic Encyclopedia, St. Coemgen (Catholic Answers) · Wikipedia, Kevin of Glendalough
Famous namesakes
- Saint Kevin of Glendalough, Irish hermit and abbot
Popularity abroad
- #221 United States, boys 2025 (down 25 from 196 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration - #292 England and Wales, boys 2025
Office for National Statistics
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Kevin · Kevan