Kelvin
Kelvin is a boy's name of Celtic origin.
Meaning
Narrow river or friend of the water.
Origin and history
Kelvin is a masculine name of Scottish origin, derived from the River Kelvin in Scotland. The river name likely stems from Gaelic roots meaning 'narrow water' or 'friend of the water'. It gained popularity in modern times partly due to Lord Kelvin, the famous Scottish physicist.
Popularity in the United States
51,551 babies in the United States have been named Kelvin since 1880. It ranks #503 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #898.
States where it is most popular
- NY (10.2 %)
- TX (8.8 %)
- CA (7.8 %)
- GA (7.6 %)
- FL (6.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 11 |
| 1920-1930 | 61 |
| 1930-1940 | 182 |
| 1940-1950 | 228 |
| 1950-1960 | 5,182 |
| 1960-1970 | 11,860 |
| 1970-1980 | 7,931 |
| 1980-1990 | 7,167 |
| 1990-2000 | 7,398 |
| 2000-2010 | 6,259 |
| 2010-2019 | 3,875 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,397 |
Famous people named Kelvin
- Kelvin Benjamin: Athlete, Football Player
- Kelvin Gastelum: Mixed Martial Artist, Athlete
- Kelvin Harrison Jr.: Actor
Nicknames
Kel
Fun facts
- The Kelvin temperature scale is named after William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, who took his title from the River Kelvin.
- The River Kelvin flows through Glasgow, Scotland, giving the name a strong connection to Scottish geography.