Kelvin
Boy name · Celtic · English · Gaelic · Scottish
Meaningfrom the River Kelvin · Scottish
- US rank
- #1,034
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #207 in 1965
214 babies were named Kelvin in the US in 2025. It has dropped 112 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1912–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Kelvin you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Kelvin
Kelvin Kiptum
Kenyan long-distance runner (1999–2024)
Choose Kelvin and your child shares a first name with Kelvin Kiptum, a Kenyan long-distance runner. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Kelvin, like who?” Kelvin Kiptum's Wikipedia article is available in 54 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Kelvin Kiptum on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Katie Chan, CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 7,981 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Kelvin, 214 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Kelvin would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryKelvin first shows up in US birth records in 1912, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 113 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1965, when it ranked #207. Today it's #1,034, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowKelvin was 2.7× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 2,990 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 7,981.
- TrendKelvin has slipped 112 places over the last five years and now sits at #1,034. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedKelvin is most popular in Mississippi, where it ranks #415, followed by Massachusetts (#555) and Maryland (#571). It's in the top 1,000 in 11 states.
- MeaningIn Scottish, Kelvin means “from the River Kelvin”. Our records link it to Celtic, English and Gaelic roots.
About the name Kelvin
Kelvin is a boy name of Celtic, English and Gaelic origin meaning “from the River Kelvin”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with K and ending in “-vin”. US birth records list Kelvin for boys from 1912 to 2025, in 105 of those 114 years. Its best year was 1965, when it ranked #207 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #1,034, with 214 babies.
Origin:Celtic namesEnglish namesGaelic namesScottish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 2.5 | 402,010 boys |
| 1920s | 5.5 | 182,149 boys |
| 1930s | 17 | 58,005 boys |
| 1940s | 15 | 66,181 boys |
| 1950s | 249 | 4,009 boys |
| 1960s | 614 | 1,629 boys |
| 1970s | 481 | 2,081 boys |
| 1980s | 388 | 2,580 boys |
| 1990s | 379 | 2,638 boys |
| 2000s | 314 | 3,187 boys |
| 2010s | 206 | 4,864 boys |
| 2020s | 135 | 7,421 boys |
Other spellings of Kelvin
More Celtic boy names
- Unisex name: Owen · well-born
- Unisex name: Logan · little hollow
- Unisex name: Rowan · little red-haired one
- Unisex name: Nolan · descendant of Nuallán
- Unisex name: Cameron · crooked nose
- Boy name: Ian · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Gael · a Gael
- Boy name: Arthur · possibly bear
Questions about the name Kelvin
What does the name Kelvin mean?
Kelvin means “from the River Kelvin” in Scottish.
What is the origin of the name Kelvin?
Kelvin has Celtic, English, Gaelic, Scottish roots in our records. Other Celtic names include Owen, Logan, Rowan.
Is Kelvin a boy or girl name?
Kelvin is a boy name.
How popular is the name Kelvin?
Kelvin ranked #1,034 for US boys in 2025, given to 214 babies. Its best year was 1965 (#207).