Celso
An Italian masculine name derived from the Roman surname Celsus, meaning "the lofty or eminent one".
Name Census estimates that about 1,912 living Americans carry the first name Celso. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Celso today is around 36 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Celso births was 2006 (48 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Celso. 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
1.9K
~ 1 in 179,265 Americans
Peak year
2006
48 babies that year
Average age
36
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,261
Tracked since 1910
Popularity
Celso: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Celso from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 12 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 377 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Celso 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 Celso during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Celsos live
The SSA's state-level files cover 9 states and territories. Texas, California, New York recorded the most babies named Celso, while New Jersey, Florida, Arizona recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 119 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Celso
The name Celso originated from the Latin language and is derived from the word "celsus," which means "elevated" or "lofty." This name has its roots in ancient Roman culture, where it was often given to individuals born into noble or prominent families.
In the early days of the Roman Empire, the name Celso was associated with virtue, dignity, and a sense of excellence. It was believed that individuals bearing this name would possess qualities of leadership, ambition, and a strong moral character.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Celso can be found in the writings of the famous Roman philosopher and statesman, Seneca the Younger, who lived from 4 BC to 65 AD. He mentioned a friend named Celso in one of his letters, indicating the name's usage during that time period.
Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the name Celso. One prominent figure was Celso Cesare Melloni, an Italian physicist and mathematician who lived from 1798 to 1876. He made significant contributions to the study of the polarization of light and the development of early photography techniques.
Another individual of historical significance was Celso Furtado, a Brazilian economist and influential thinker who lived from 1920 to 2004. He was a renowned proponent of the structuralist school of economic thought and played a crucial role in shaping development policies in Latin America.
In the realm of literature, Celso Antonio Bandeira was a celebrated Brazilian poet who lived from 1886 to 1968. His works, which explored themes of modernity and urban life, are considered significant contributions to the Brazilian literary canon.
Celso Fávero was a Brazilian artist and painter who lived from 1962 to 1994. His vibrant and expressive works, often depicting scenes of everyday life, have been widely exhibited and celebrated in the art world.
Finally, Celso Borges is a contemporary Costa Rican professional footballer who was born in 1988. He has represented his country in several major international tournaments and is regarded as one of the most talented midfielders in Central American football.
These are just a few examples of the diverse individuals who have carried the name Celso throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and disciplines.
People
Celso + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Celso 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
Celso: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Celso?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,912 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Celso 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 179,265 US residents.
Is Celso a common name?
We classify Celso as "Rare". It ranks above 93.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 2,327 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Celso most popular?
The single biggest year for Celso was 2006, when 48 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Celso is about 36 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Celso a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Celso 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.
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.