Kellen
Boy name · #1069 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Kellen? In official American birth records, Kellen has been tracked continuously since 1954, giving it 71 years of documented American history.
Kellen is currently the #1069 boy name in the United States — 202 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #506, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 8,911 boys born in 2025 was named Kellen.
The 71-year story
Kellen first appears in the Social Security records in 1954, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2012, when 932 boys were named Kellen — good for #337 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 Kellen per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Kellen against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kellen in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Kellen is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Kellen will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Kellen is most common
Geography matters for names, and Kellen is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Kellen is most common in WA (0.4 per 1,000), PA (0.2 per 1,000), IL (0.2 per 1,000), TX (0.1 per 1,000), CA (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.1 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Kellen is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Kellen
Statistically, parents drawn to Kellen tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Cullen, Kallen, Daylen, Kaylen, and Kolten.
CullenKallenDaylenKaylenKoltenBraylenRylenAdrien
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kellen | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 202 | #1069 |
| 2024 | 216 | #1031 |
| 2023 | 251 | #919 |
| 2022 | 299 | #830 |
| 2021 | 271 | #863 |
| 2020 | 291 | #796 |
| 2019 | 308 | #769 |
| 2018 | 347 | #696 |
| 2017 | 420 | #622 |
| 2016 | 440 | #611 |
| 2015 | 569 | #506 |
| 2014 | 672 | #444 |
| 2013 | 759 | #394 |
| 2012 | 932 | #337 |
| 2011 | 880 | #344 |
| 2010 | 840 | #359 |
| 2009 | 653 | #431 |
| 2008 | 628 | #447 |
| 2007 | 519 | #511 |
| 2006 | 487 | #524 |
| 2005 | 471 | #521 |
| 2004 | 475 | #513 |
| 2003 | 387 | #572 |
| 2002 | 270 | #678 |
| 2001 | 242 | #723 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Kellen?
In official American birth records, the name Kellen first appeared in 1954 (over 71 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 71 years.
Is Kellen a popular boy name?
Kellen ranked #1069 among boys in 2025 with 202 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #506.
When was the name Kellen most popular?
Kellen peaked in 2012, when 932 American boys received the name (ranked #337 that year). Since 2012 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Kellen?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 8,911 newborn American boys was named Kellen. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.