Kelvin

Kelvin - A very unique male name

Kelvin appeared on the charts for the first time in 1924 on position #1911. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Kelvin and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Kelvin? 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 Kelvin. The baby boy name Kelvin was given to 165 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1034 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 8,887 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Kelvin peaked in popularity 61 years ago in 1965 on position 208.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Kelvin, 1-5?

Kelvin is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Kelvin is currently topping the baby name charts in Mississippi at position #448 - and is the least popular in Illinois at position #1,393.

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 Kelvin is where you live.

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Kelvin origin and meaning

Scottish — place and surname name

From the River Kelvin in Glasgow; the river name is Celtic and its exact meaning is uncertain, often linked to words for 'narrow water'

Kelvin entered name use in honour of the physicist Lord Kelvin, who took his title from Glasgow's river — a surname-and-title story, not a given-name bearer. As a boy's name it peaked in the US in 1961, in the scientist's long shadow and the space-age Kelvin scale's familiarity.

Origin uncertain

Kelvin is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

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

Similar to Kelvin

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

Kalvin / Kelvon /

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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 Kelvin

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 Kelvin 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 Kelvin?

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

KEL-vin · /ˈkɛlvɪn/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Kelven — E-spelling variant.

Nicknames: Kel

Famous bearers

• Kelvin Gastelum — American mixed martial artist (b. 1991) Contemporary
• Kelvin Benjamin — American NFL wide receiver (b. 1991) Contemporary

Style

SurnamePlace name

Why parents choose it

Kelvin appeals to parents who like science-flavoured, Scottish-tinged names — the temperature scale keeps it quietly familiar. It is below its 1960s peak.

Worth knowing

• Most people meet Kelvin as a unit of temperature first.
• Lord Kelvin was a title (the physicist was born William Thomson) — the name honours him indirectly, through the river.