Calvin
Boy name · #132 in 2025 · Uniqueness 42/100
Calvin ranks #132 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 2,710 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #171, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 664 boys born in 2025 was named Calvin.
The 145-year story
Calvin first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 134 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1924, when 4,918 boys were named Calvin — good for #44 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Calvin per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Calvin against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Calvin in class?
Calvin scores 42 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Calvin is most common
Geography matters for names, and Calvin is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Calvins were CA (189), TX (160), OH (153), MN (117), MI (111). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Calvin
Statistically, parents drawn to Calvin tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Leon, Charlie, Warren, Edwin, and George.
LeonCharlieWarrenEdwinGeorgeFranklinArthurHarvey
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Calvin | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,710 | #132 |
| 2024 | 2,577 | #140 |
| 2023 | 2,411 | #152 |
| 2022 | 2,593 | #148 |
| 2021 | 2,593 | #145 |
| 2020 | 2,535 | #144 |
| 2019 | 2,647 | #145 |
| 2018 | 2,761 | #144 |
| 2017 | 2,703 | #146 |
| 2016 | 2,795 | #149 |
| 2015 | 2,439 | #171 |
| 2014 | 2,337 | #182 |
| 2013 | 2,066 | #195 |
| 2012 | 1,966 | #189 |
| 2011 | 1,709 | #208 |
| 2010 | 1,662 | #215 |
| 2009 | 1,578 | #231 |
| 2008 | 1,630 | #227 |
| 2007 | 1,618 | #229 |
| 2006 | 1,648 | #220 |
| 2005 | 1,619 | #219 |
| 2004 | 1,597 | #219 |
| 2003 | 1,566 | #223 |
| 2002 | 1,561 | #221 |
| 2001 | 1,613 | #215 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Calvin a popular boy name?
Calvin ranked #132 among boys in 2025 with 2,710 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #171.
When was the name Calvin most popular?
Calvin peaked in 1924, when 4,918 American boys received the name (ranked #44 that year). Since 1924 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Calvin?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 664 newborn American boys was named Calvin. It scores 42/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.