Given name & surname · also Irish
Kerwin
“little dark one”·“a friend from the swamp”
Kerwin is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “little dark one” and “a friend from the swamp”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “little dark one” and “a friend from the swamp”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with Irish and English naming traditions.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1913. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kerwin through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,470
- 2,470 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1959
- 89 babies
- 2025
- 5
- #13,025 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −15%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 5 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 13,025 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 14.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 89 in 1959. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,123 as a first name in 2020; 3,448 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Kerwin’s family of names
Kerwin has a related form in Kervin. Kerwin has a related form in Kerwyn. Kerwin has a related form in Kenwynne.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 23
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Kerwin
- Kerwin MathewsAmerican actor (1926–2007)
- Kerwin VargasColombian footballerborn 2002
- Kerwin RoachAmerican basketball player (born 1996)
- Kerwin PeixotoPeruvian association football playerborn 1988
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kerwin, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kelvin
“a friend of ships; a man of the river”
>99% boys
Derwin
“a friend of the deer; a gifted friend”
>99% boys
Ken
“born of fire” · “handsome, fair one”
>99% boys
Cary
“from the river” · “from the fort on the hill”
95% boys · 5% girls
Carlton
“from the free man's town”
>99% boys
Kemp
“the champion”
>99% boys
Kevin
“a beloved and handsome man”
>99% boys
Darvin
“a beloved friend”
>99% boys