The most popular Irish boys’ name 50 years ago is a name we forgot was Irish

This Irish boys’ name was given to 474 baby boys in 1976, 50 years ago. It ranked 16th of all little buachaillí [boys] born that year.

We’re sure you know a heap of grown men with the name – in Ireland and beyond, including celebrities from all over. It’s a name so mainstream that people may not even realize its origins are Irish. Did you?

The name is Kevin. Yes, reliable old Kevin. You may know the name from being the moniker of Hollywood stars Kevin Costner, Bacon, Hart and Kline. Or you may know it from your brother, dad, neighbor, uncle or friend!

It’s the anglicized version of the old Irish name Caoimhín, and it comes from the word "caomh" that means "noble". Once hugely popular in Ireland, it is now 139th on the list of most popular names. According to the most recent rankings from the CSO, it was given to 39 baby boys in 2025.

So, it hasn’t fallen completely out of favor, but it’s no Rían, either.

Despite the rise in Irish names with the original, Irish spellings being given to 21st-century babies, there were more baby boys named Kevin than Caoimhín in 2025. Only 23 baby boys were recorded with the name Caoimhín that year, meaning it ranked at 207.

The girls’ version of the name, Caoimhe, was ranked 31st of all baby girls recorded in Ireland in 2025, with 130 baby girls recorded with the name.

Only 16 baby girls were named Caoimhe 50 years ago in 1976.

There is another Irish boys’ name that people may forget is Irish, given their international popularity. It’s Oscar, which is a hugely popular name in English-speaking and non-English-speaking countries.

* This article was originally published on Rollercoaster.ie.