Kalvin
Boy name · #1567 in 2025 · Uniqueness 75/100
Kalvin ranks #1567 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 109 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1134, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 16,514 boys born in 2025 was named Kalvin.
The 92-year story
Kalvin first appears in the Social Security records in 1933, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2017, when 177 boys were named Kalvin — good for #1100 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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 Kalvin per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Kalvin against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kalvin in class?
Kalvin scores 75 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Kalvin will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Kalvin is most common
Geography matters for names, and Kalvin is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Kalvins were CA (15), IL (8), TX (8), NY (7), FL (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Kalvin
Statistically, parents drawn to Kalvin tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Arvin, Kavin, Selvin, Kain, and Kenton.
ArvinKavinSelvinKainKentonLevinKlaytonTorin
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kalvin | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 109 | #1564 |
| 2024 | 92 | #1776 |
| 2023 | 89 | #1803 |
| 2022 | 133 | #1393 |
| 2021 | 125 | #1442 |
| 2020 | 139 | #1297 |
| 2019 | 156 | #1218 |
| 2018 | 165 | #1160 |
| 2017 | 177 | #1100 |
| 2016 | 160 | #1183 |
| 2015 | 167 | #1134 |
| 2014 | 118 | #1422 |
| 2013 | 143 | #1238 |
| 2012 | 126 | #1346 |
| 2011 | 129 | #1319 |
| 2010 | 128 | #1331 |
| 2009 | 152 | #1186 |
| 2008 | 154 | #1168 |
| 2007 | 158 | #1132 |
| 2006 | 133 | #1255 |
| 2005 | 127 | #1245 |
| 2004 | 117 | #1280 |
| 2003 | 109 | #1291 |
| 2002 | 137 | #1087 |
| 2001 | 116 | #1178 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Kalvin a popular boy name?
Kalvin ranked #1567 among boys in 2025 with 109 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1134.
When was the name Kalvin most popular?
Kalvin peaked in 2017, when 177 American boys received the name (ranked #1100 that year). Since 2017 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Kalvin?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 16,514 newborn American boys was named Kalvin. It scores 75/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
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.