Kemal
Every Kemal since 1965 — 373 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Kemal
Kemal is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #13,007 in 2025 with 5 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1965, 373 American babies have been named Kemal. Its peak came in 2023, when 15 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
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 Kemal stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Kemal year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | #13,007 |
| 2024 | 7 | #10,424 |
| 2023 | 15 | #6,082 |
| 2022 | 13 | #6,669 |
| 2021 | 12 | #6,906 |
| 2020 | 9 | #8,413 |
| 2019 | 14 | #6,262 |
| 2018 | 14 | #6,178 |
| 2017 | 9 | #8,515 |
| 2016 | 8 | #9,301 |
| 2015 | 9 | #8,397 |
| 2014 | 11 | #7,311 |
| 2013 | 6 | #11,490 |
| 2012 | 6 | #11,563 |
| 2011 | 9 | #8,457 |
| 2010 | 5 | #13,342 |
| 2009 | 9 | #8,692 |
| 2008 | 12 | #6,989 |
| 2007 | 11 | #7,362 |
| 2006 | 11 | #7,202 |
| 2005 | 8 | #8,724 |
| 2004 | 7 | #9,476 |
| 2003 | 7 | #9,192 |
| 2002 | 8 | #8,083 |
| 2001 | 11 | #6,245 |
| 2000 | 9 | #7,129 |
| 1995 | 6 | #8,371 |
| 1990 | 7 | #6,823 |
| 1985 | 6 | #6,177 |
| 1980 | 5 | #6,783 |
| 1975 | 6 | #5,131 |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1965 | 5 | #4,201 |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Kemal
- Kemal Sunal Actor · 1944–2000
- Kemal Reis Military personnel · 1451–1511
- Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu Politician · b. 1948
- Kemal Monteno Singer · 1948–2015
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Kemal in 2025?
Kemal ranked #13,007 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 5 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Kemal?
373 babies have been named Kemal in the United States since 1965, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Kemal most popular?
Kemal peaked in 2023, when 15 newborns received the name.
Is Kemal a boy or girl name?
Kemal is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Kemal rising or falling?
Kemal is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Kemal?
Well-known people named Kemal include Kemal Sunal (actor), Kemal Reis (military personnel), Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu (politician).