Kelvin Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Kelvin originates from Scottish roots and means narrow river. It evolved from the Old Gaelic Ceolbhin and gained popularity in the 19th century due to the notable physicist Lord Kelvin. The name is perceived positively, often linked to intelligence and scientific accomplishment, and has a few common variants.
The name Kelvin is most popular in District of Columbia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Kelvin has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Kelvin' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4320th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1753rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 294th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 249th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 314th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 438th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 791st out of 23106 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 6304th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 5999th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 9514th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 35406th out of 35406 names. Discover how the name 'Kelvin' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Kelvin"
Pronunciation
/ˈkɛlvɪn/
Origin
Scottish
Etymology
The name Kelvin is derived from the River Kelvin in Scotland, which itself is thought to be of Gaelic origin, possibly meaning 'river' or 'narrow.'
Meaning
narrow river
Language Evolution
Kelvin (modern usage), Ceolbhin (Old Gaelic)
Historical Usage
The name Kelvin gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly due to the influence of Lord Kelvin, a prominent physicist and engineer.
Variants & Derivatives
Kel, Kell, Kelve
Modern Popularity & Image
Kelvin is often associated with intelligence and scientific achievement, largely due to its association with Lord Kelvin and the field of thermodynamics.
Famous People
William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, Kelvin Fletcher, Kelvin Sampson
Explore More Kelvin Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Kelvin"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Kelvin"
"Kelvin" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 4320th of 7545 | 51 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1753rd of 6773 | 308 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 294th of 7552 | 11,890 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 249th of 10718 | 13,819 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 314th of 16616 | 11,967 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 438th of 24088 | 9,677 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 791st of 23106 | 3,622 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 6304th of 12526 | 66 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 5999th of 19264 | 129 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 9514th of 27321 | 104 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 35406th of 35406 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Kelvin" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
91.44% 1261st/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
75.26% 1171st/1556 |
- | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
12.80% 285th/2227 |
13.46% 327th/2430 |
8.73% 249th/2853 |
13.66% 379th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
11.99% 352nd/2937 |
10.11% 352nd/3483 |
4.29% 151st/3518 |
13.65% 552nd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
12.32% 454th/3685 |
5.47% 245th/4475 |
4.62% 240th/5194 |
7.31% 462nd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
14.56% 667th/4582 |
5.48% 283rd/5164 |
5.43% 397th/7313 |
7.44% 555th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
24.75% 986th/3984 |
14.33% 643rd/4487 |
10.13% 691st/6822 |
14.79% 928th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Kelvin" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
93.65% 4191st/4475 |
- | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Kelvin"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Kelvin" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.