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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Has Kevin surpassed naffness to enter a new era of acceptability?

141 replies

MrsSeanBean · 23/02/2009 18:57

I would not use the name personally, but it seems to me that a whole new raft of names have come to the fore these days, making names such as Kevin (Gary, Barry, Lee etc) seem almost quasi-respectable.

What do you think? Maybe it still needs a few more years yet.

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Bandwitch · 27/06/2011 11:05

I like Lynne. I think Susan will come back before Suzanne, as Susan born in the 50s and 60s and Suzanne the 80s (well, typically, obviously LOTS of exceptions).

I like Lindsay too, very pretty name that is not too girly.

bubaluchy · 27/06/2011 10:57

marjorie Grin

Fimbo · 27/06/2011 10:50

I think Lyn/Lynn/Lynne is due a revival along with Suzanne.

girlscout · 27/06/2011 10:41

Better a Kevin ,than a trevor,or a neville,or a derek,or ryan....

befuzzled · 27/06/2011 10:23

Quite a few nicks cropping up round here, tho most have Greek parentage origins maybe

Numberfour · 27/06/2011 08:36

Kevin and Keith - if I had twins, that is what I would call them. Love it!

onlylivinggirl · 27/06/2011 08:36

It depends where you are - a friend of mine in Canada has a Michelle and a Jason which are very seventies to me. Another seventies name which i like and keep expecting to see back is Nicholas (Nick)- but it doesn't seem to be catching on

befuzzled · 27/06/2011 07:53

All the kevins I know are fat, balding middle aged middle managers with curry stained ties and guts bursting out at the seams and are misogynistic, power crazed wankers to a man (along with all the nigels and barres)

TheShriekingHarpy · 27/06/2011 07:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AlfalfaMum · 27/06/2011 00:40

It doesn't have the naff connotations in Ireland. I know quite a few very nice, attractive, unthuglike Kevins. They are all quite athletic and well-travelled.
I would definitely consider the name if I had a boy, if it weren't that I already know quite a few.

moondog · 27/06/2011 00:33

Soorry, you alread had domne 2/3.Time for bed!

moondog · 27/06/2011 00:33

So true Clary.
Add a Debbie and a Lisa and a Karen too.

EllenJaneisnotmyname · 27/06/2011 00:31

I know an 8 year old Phil, just isn't right, makes me think of Phil Mitchell and all the 40-something Phils who went to school with me. His best friend is called David, not shortened to Dave, thank God.

stenogirl · 26/06/2011 23:54

I like the name Kevin.
What does a Janet look like? In my experience... mumsy and quite shy.

Clary · 26/06/2011 23:53

When I say the 60s-70s, I mean people born in that time. That is, people who are in their 40s now.

Their names are also Steve, Dave, Mark, Martin, Paul; we who are married to them are called Tracey, Julie, Carol, Clare, Debbie, Karen, Nicola. We may be hip, happening and edgy. Sadly, our names are not. Not yet anyway.

Clary · 26/06/2011 23:49

I think Kevin (as well as the characters mentioned) was just so immensely popular that it is very much of its time in the UK, and that time is the 60s-70s.

I used to work with a chap called Arthur whose son was Kevin; he said that his son had said he wished his dad had called him Arthur instead (this is in the late80s, way before Arthur became trendy) as every time someone came into a pub and shouted "Kevin" about 15 25-year-olds would turn round. Grin

BettyTurnip · 26/06/2011 23:31

Kevin is not a middle aged man with a combover; Kevin is a twentysomething lad in the eighties with a 'tache, mullet, marble washed denim jacket and an RS Turbo. Think Kevin Webster...

moondog · 26/06/2011 23:18

No offence taken or meant. Grin

sorchatallulah · 26/06/2011 23:14

Sorry for the offence moondog, just thought I'd suggest it as I'm in Ireland and I know no Kevins but several Caoimhíns!

exoticfruits · 26/06/2011 22:52

No

Nancy66 · 26/06/2011 22:39

Kevin was a naff name a long time before Kevin the teenager became a well known character.

It's a name for middled aged men in polyester cardigans who wear driving gloves and have a comb-over.

cloudydays · 26/06/2011 22:29

Batman to the rescue :) Thanks for that.

I watched 7 seconds of the 'teenager' one before I had to turn it off to prevent myself from throwing the laptop across the room.

But the gerbil was kind of cute.

BatmanLovesRobin · 26/06/2011 22:22
whysolate · 26/06/2011 22:16

DH's dad, one of his brothers AND his nephew are all Kevin! It's raining Kev's round here! They are referred to as Kev, little Kev and baby Kev. Blush I kid you not!

Holy crap, I am giggling as I type. I'm sorry, I should go........

cloudydays · 26/06/2011 22:08

It's a great Irish name, absolutely nothing wrong with it at all.

Popular in the U.S., not because it's trendy or anything, but because it's seen as a lovely, classic name along the lines of Jack or Michael. For Irish Americans it has the benefit of being recognisably Irish while still being well known and pronounceable by everyone. I know two young (under 10) Kevins in the U.S., and one in Ireland.

I can't believe the name Kevin would provoke such a strong negative reaction from people in the U.K. that people would feel sorry for a child given the name! Interesting - can someone fill me (and other non-Brit MNers) in on what the cultural context is that makes it so 'naff'? Is it just a matter of it having been hugely popular at one point so that it's associated with a particular era, or is it too closely connected with a particular character or person? Genuinely Shock and curious!

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