Kellen
Boy name · #1069 in 2025 · Uniqueness 73/100
Kellen is currently the #1069 boy name in the United States — 202 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #506, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 8,911 boys born in 2025 was named Kellen.
The 71-year story
Kellen first appears in the Social Security records in 1954, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2012, when 932 boys were named Kellen — good for #337 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 Kellen per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Kellen against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kellen in class?
Kellen scores 73 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 Kellen will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Kellen is most common
Geography matters for names, and Kellen is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Kellens were TX (15), CA (14), PA (13), WA (12), IL (11). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Kellen
Statistically, parents drawn to Kellen tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Cullen, Kallen, Daylen, Kaylen, and Kolten.
CullenKallenDaylenKaylenKoltenBraylenRylenAdrien
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kellen | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 202 | #1069 |
| 2024 | 216 | #1031 |
| 2023 | 251 | #919 |
| 2022 | 299 | #830 |
| 2021 | 271 | #863 |
| 2020 | 291 | #796 |
| 2019 | 308 | #769 |
| 2018 | 347 | #696 |
| 2017 | 420 | #622 |
| 2016 | 440 | #611 |
| 2015 | 569 | #506 |
| 2014 | 672 | #444 |
| 2013 | 759 | #394 |
| 2012 | 932 | #337 |
| 2011 | 880 | #344 |
| 2010 | 840 | #359 |
| 2009 | 653 | #431 |
| 2008 | 628 | #447 |
| 2007 | 519 | #511 |
| 2006 | 487 | #524 |
| 2005 | 471 | #521 |
| 2004 | 475 | #513 |
| 2003 | 387 | #572 |
| 2002 | 270 | #678 |
| 2001 | 242 | #723 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Kellen a popular boy name?
Kellen ranked #1069 among boys in 2025 with 202 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #506.
When was the name Kellen most popular?
Kellen peaked in 2012, when 932 American boys received the name (ranked #337 that year). Since 2012 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Kellen?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 8,911 newborn American boys was named Kellen. It scores 73/100 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.