Kelvin
Boy name · #1035 in 2025 · Uniqueness 67/100
Kelvin ranks #1035 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 214 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #652, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 8,411 boys born in 2025 was named Kelvin.
The 113-year story
Kelvin first appears in the Social Security records in 1912, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1961, when 1,370 boys were named Kelvin — good for #209 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 Kelvin per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Kelvin against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kelvin in class?
Kelvin scores 67 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 Kelvin will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Kelvin is most common
Geography matters for names, and Kelvin is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Kelvins were TX (30), CA (17), FL (16), NY (16), NJ (12). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Kelvin
Statistically, parents drawn to Kelvin tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Darvin, Nelson, Byron, Darwin, and Kenny.
DarvinNelsonByronDarwinKennyRobinMartinDarren
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kelvin | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 214 | #1034 |
| 2024 | 201 | #1082 |
| 2023 | 232 | #966 |
| 2022 | 254 | #908 |
| 2021 | 254 | #905 |
| 2020 | 242 | #922 |
| 2019 | 317 | #752 |
| 2018 | 281 | #805 |
| 2017 | 328 | #727 |
| 2016 | 336 | #728 |
| 2015 | 399 | #652 |
| 2014 | 366 | #688 |
| 2013 | 412 | #611 |
| 2012 | 474 | #549 |
| 2011 | 465 | #546 |
| 2010 | 497 | #520 |
| 2009 | 572 | #479 |
| 2008 | 606 | #460 |
| 2007 | 623 | #448 |
| 2006 | 632 | #434 |
| 2005 | 617 | #433 |
| 2004 | 631 | #412 |
| 2003 | 644 | #403 |
| 2002 | 659 | #396 |
| 2001 | 618 | #403 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Kelvin a popular boy name?
Kelvin ranked #1035 among boys in 2025 with 214 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #652.
When was the name Kelvin most popular?
Kelvin peaked in 1961, when 1,370 American boys received the name (ranked #209 that year). Since 1961 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Kelvin?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 8,411 newborn American boys was named Kelvin. It scores 67/100 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.