Calvin

Calvin - A very unique male name

Calvin appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #155. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Calvin and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Calvin? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Calvin. The baby boy name Calvin was given to 2,702 baby boys in 2025, ranking #133 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 543 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Calvin peaked in popularity 102 years ago in 1924 on position 44.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Calvin, 1-5?

Calvin is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Calvin is currently topping the baby name charts in Minnesota at position #32 - and is the least popular in West Virginia at position #263.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Calvin is where you live.

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Calvin origin and meaning

Latin Calvinus, via French Chauvin

'Bald' — from Latin calvus, bald, as a Roman family name

Calvin comes from a Latin nickname meaning bald, carried into English through the French surname Chauvin and, above all, theologian John Calvin. In the US it peaked in 1924 and is now in a modest vintage rise, to #133 in 2025.

Attested etymology

Calvin is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Calvin, pop culture references for the name Calvin and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Calvin

We've found the following names that sound similar to Calvin, sorted by popularity.

Cleven / Colvin /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Calvin

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Calvin a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Calvin?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

KAL-vin · /ˈkælvɪn/

Around the world

• Chauvin (French) — The French surname form of the same name

Spellings and nicknames

Nicknames: CalVin

Famous bearers

• John Calvin — Protestant theologian and reformer, born Jean Calvin (1509–1564) Historical
• Calvin Coolidge — 30th US president, born John Calvin Coolidge Jr. (1872–1933) Historical
• Calvin Harris — Scottish DJ and producer, born Adam Wiles and known by his stage name Calvin Harris (b. 1984) Contemporary
• Calvin Klein — Fashion designer (b. 1942) Contemporary

Style

ClassicVintage revival

Why parents choose it

Calvin pairs a bookish, vintage image with the friendly short form Cal. Calvin and Hobbes gives it a playful warmth many parents grew up with.

Worth knowing

• Calvin and Hobbes comparisons are frequent
• The 'bald' meaning is unflattering if meanings matter to you