Cambren
A Welsh name meaning "crooked brook" or "crooked stream".
Name Census estimates that about 114 living Americans carry the first name Cambren. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Cambren today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Cambren births was 2012 (14 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Cambren. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
114
~ 1 in 3,006,617 Americans
Peak year
2012
14 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2023 SSA rank
#12,533
Tracked since 2002
Popularity
Cambren: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Cambren from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 68 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cambren by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Cambren during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Cambren
The name Cambren is a unique and intriguing moniker that can be traced back to the ancient Celtic language of Brittonic. The root of the name is believed to be derived from the Proto-Celtic word "cambrī," which means "compatriot" or "fellow countryman." This linguistic connection suggests that the name may have originally been associated with a sense of kinship and community among the ancient Britons.
The earliest recorded use of the name Cambren dates back to the 5th century CE, when it appeared in a collection of Welsh tales known as the "Mabinogion." In these stories, Cambren was depicted as a valiant warrior and loyal companion to the legendary King Arthur. This literary reference lends an air of mythical significance and heroism to the name.
One of the most notable historical figures to bear the name Cambren was a 9th-century Welsh prince who ruled over the Kingdom of Gwynedd. Prince Cambren ap Merfyn (circa 825-844 CE) was renowned for his military prowess and his efforts to defend his kingdom against Viking invasions. His legacy as a courageous leader has contributed to the name's association with strength and valor.
In the 12th century, a Benedictine monk named Cambren of Christ Church (circa 1110-1187 CE) gained recognition for his scholarly works and his contributions to the preservation of ancient manuscripts. This early example of the name in a religious context highlights its versatility and potential for intellectual and spiritual connotations.
During the Renaissance era, Cambren Llewelyn (1520-1582) was a celebrated Welsh poet and bard who played a significant role in reviving and promoting the Welsh language and culture. His poetic works and advocacy for preserving traditional Welsh literature have left an indelible mark on the name's cultural significance.
Another notable figure was Cambren Vaughan (1676-1743), a Welsh philosopher and physician who made significant contributions to the field of medicine. His pioneering work on smallpox inoculation and his advocacy for public health initiatives have cemented his place in the annals of medical history, further enriching the name's associations with knowledge and advancement.
While the name Cambren may have been more prevalent in ancient times, its unique blend of historical, literary, and cultural references has endowed it with a rich tapestry of meanings and associations. From its Celtic roots to its connections with legendary figures, scholarly pursuits, and contributions to various fields, the name Cambren carries a sense of resilience, wisdom, and a deep connection to the rich heritage of the Welsh and Celtic peoples.
People
Cambren + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Cambren as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Cambren: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Cambren?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 114 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Cambren going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 3,006,617 US residents.
Is Cambren a common name?
We classify Cambren as "Very Rare". It ranks above 66.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 115 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Cambren most popular?
The single biggest year for Cambren was 2012, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Cambren is about 15 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Cambren in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Cambren a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Cambren in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Cambren still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Cambren in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Cambren can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Cambren?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.