Unisex name · peaked 1998

Kalen

Every Kalen since 1952 — 6,096 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex — comparable across eras
0.030.050.080.118801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls
Rank 2025
#2,086
among boys
Babies in 2025
80
named Kalen
Peak year
1998
226 babies
All-time total
6,096
since 1952

The story of Kalen

Kalen is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,086 in 2025 with 71 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1952, 6,096 American babies have been named Kalen — about 76% boys and 24% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1998, when 226 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1990s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Kalen stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Kalen year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 9 #10,487 71 #2,086
2024 74 #2,049
2023 56 #2,426
2022 5 #16,449 83 #1,897
2021 7 #12,822 101 #1,650
2020 65 #2,155
2019 80 #1,878
2018 6 #14,676 67 #2,110
2017 11 #9,616 52 #2,470
2016 9 #11,296 66 #2,122
2015 15 #7,794 66 #2,123
2014 21 #6,100 78 #1,876
2013 20 #6,357 84 #1,745
2012 18 #6,999 86 #1,747
2011 26 #5,285 106 #1,514
2010 19 #6,767 125 #1,363
2009 20 #6,682 140 #1,260
2008 36 #4,313 123 #1,385
2007 33 #4,519 147 #1,202
2006 37 #4,037 118 #1,372
2005 44 #3,436 120 #1,285
2004 29 #4,653 122 #1,240
2003 39 #3,629 144 #1,080
2002 51 #2,914 115 #1,210
2001 48 #2,986 133 #1,082
2000 53 #2,757 120 #1,159
1995 43 #2,814 141 #936
1990 34 #3,253 104 #1,040
1985 24 #3,567 83 #1,005
1980 7 #8,546 31 #1,832
1975 10 #5,722 8 #4,118
1970 5 #8,584 8 #3,675
1965 11 #4,056 9 #2,890
1960
1955 5 #6,263
1950
1945
1940
1935
1930
1925
1920
1915
1910
1905
1900
1895
1890
1885
1880

Frequently asked questions

How popular is the name Kalen in 2025?

Kalen ranked #2,086 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 71 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Kalen?

6,096 babies have been named Kalen in the United States since 1952, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Kalen most popular?

Kalen peaked in 1998, when 226 newborns received the name.

Is Kalen a boy or girl name?

Kalen is used for both: about 24% of babies named Kalen have been girls and 76% boys.

Is the name Kalen rising or falling?

Kalen has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Names like Kalen

Compare Kalen with similar names →