Kelson
Boy name · #3782 in 2025 · Uniqueness 63/100
Kelson ranks #3782 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 29 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #3085, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 62,069 boys born in 2025 was named Kelson.
Babies named Kelson per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 63-year story
Kelson first appears in the Social Security records in 1962, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2009, when 49 boys were named Kelson — good for #2560 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Kelson against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kelson in class?
Kelson scores 63 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Kelson is most common
State-level data for Kelson is sparse in 2025 — the name's footprint is too small for most states to report (the SSA suppresses counts under 5 per state for privacy).
Names like Kelson
Statistically, parents drawn to Kelson tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Davidson, Nosson, Hanson, Kanyon, and Robinson.
DavidsonNossonHansonKanyonRobinsonPaysonGersonPearson
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kelson | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 29 | #3757 |
| 2024 | 22 | #4571 |
| 2023 | 34 | #3416 |
| 2022 | 30 | #3691 |
| 2021 | 30 | #3651 |
| 2020 | 19 | #4855 |
| 2019 | 33 | #3426 |
| 2018 | 38 | #3055 |
| 2017 | 37 | #3123 |
| 2016 | 30 | #3596 |
| 2015 | 37 | #3085 |
| 2014 | 49 | #2516 |
| 2013 | 48 | #2528 |
| 2012 | 40 | #2905 |
| 2011 | 42 | #2798 |
| 2010 | 31 | #3453 |
| 2009 | 49 | #2560 |
| 2008 | 38 | #3057 |
| 2007 | 41 | #2868 |
| 2006 | 37 | #2979 |
| 2005 | 48 | #2399 |
| 2004 | 39 | #2697 |
| 2003 | 41 | #2507 |
| 2002 | 34 | #2755 |
| 2001 | 34 | #2742 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Kelson a popular boy name?
Kelson ranked #3782 among boys in 2025 with 29 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3085.
When was the name Kelson most popular?
Kelson peaked in 2009, when 49 American boys received the name (ranked #2560 that year). Since 2009 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Kelson?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 62,069 newborn American boys was named Kelson. It scores 63/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.