Kelvin
Kelvin is of Scottish origin, derived from a river name near Glasgow, meaning 'narrow water.' It also carries scientific associations with Lord Kelvin, the physicist after whom the temperature scale is named.
Current Popularity
#1036 for boys
in the United States (2025)
Popularity over time
Good to Know
- •Easy to spell and pronounce in most English-speaking countries
- •Strong scientific association appeals to STEM-minded parents
- •Less common than Kevin, offering a distinctive alternative
- •Works well in both professional and casual settings
Similar Names
Famous People
Lord Kelvin (William Thomson)
Physicist and engineer
Kelvin Harrison Jr.
Actor
Kelvin Benjamin
Professional football player
Kelvin Gastelum
Mixed martial artist
Statistics
51,551
Total births since 1880
1961
Peak year
Discovery
Keep browsing
Rising now
Browse trending names
Names that climbed the most between 2020 and 2025.
Always popular
Explore timeless classics
Names that have sat in the top 50 for decades.
For this gender
See all-time favorites
The most common names since 1880, by total births.
Stories
Read famous-name profiles
How well-known people changed the names they carried.
Guides
Browse recent articles
Recent articles on naming trends.