Kevin

[ˈkɛv.ɪn]

Meaning

anglicized form of the Irish Caoimhín, from Old Irish cóem "dear, beloved" and gein "birth"

Background Story

Kevin is the anglicized form of the Irish masculine given name Caoimhín, from Old Irish Cóemgein, composed of cóem ("dear, beloved, gentle") and gein ("birth"). It is the name of a seventh-century Irish saint, Caoimhín, who founded a monastery at Glendalough and is the patron saint of Dublin. The name became popular in the English-speaking world outside Ireland in the middle of the 20th century, and elsewhere in Europe in the latter half of that century. The feminine form of the name is Caoimhe, anglicized as Keeva or Kweeva, and the variant Kevan is anglicized from the Irish diminutive Caoimheán.