Kalen
Boy name · #2084 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Kalen? In official American birth records, Kalen has been tracked continuously since 1959, giving it 66 years of documented American history.
Kalen is currently the #2084 boy name in the United States — 71 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #2112, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 25,352 boys born in 2025 was named Kalen.
The 66-year story
Kalen first appears in the Social Security records in 1959, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1998, when 169 boys were named Kalen — good for #858 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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 Kalen per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Kalen against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kalen in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Kalen is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Kalen will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Kalen is most common
State-level data for Kalen is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Kalen
Statistically, parents drawn to Kalen tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Alen, Calen, Kaylen, Keyon, and Quinten.
AlenCalenKaylenKeyonQuintenNolenEfrenDeven
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kalen | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 71 | #2077 |
| 2024 | 74 | #2042 |
| 2023 | 56 | #2416 |
| 2022 | 83 | #1892 |
| 2021 | 101 | #1645 |
| 2020 | 65 | #2139 |
| 2019 | 80 | #1868 |
| 2018 | 67 | #2101 |
| 2017 | 52 | #2450 |
| 2016 | 66 | #2110 |
| 2015 | 66 | #2112 |
| 2014 | 78 | #1873 |
| 2013 | 84 | #1733 |
| 2012 | 86 | #1742 |
| 2011 | 106 | #1510 |
| 2010 | 125 | #1358 |
| 2009 | 140 | #1257 |
| 2008 | 123 | #1380 |
| 2007 | 147 | #1197 |
| 2006 | 118 | #1367 |
| 2005 | 120 | #1282 |
| 2004 | 122 | #1235 |
| 2003 | 144 | #1076 |
| 2002 | 115 | #1204 |
| 2001 | 133 | #1080 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Kalen?
In official American birth records, the name Kalen first appeared in 1959 (over 66 years ago), when 8 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 66 years.
Is Kalen a popular boy name?
Kalen ranked #2084 among boys in 2025 with 71 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2112.
When was the name Kalen most popular?
Kalen peaked in 1998, when 169 American boys received the name (ranked #858 that year). Since 1998 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Kalen?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 25,352 newborn American boys was named Kalen. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.