Kal
An Indian name derived from Sanskrit meaning "time" or "tomorrow."
Name Census estimates that about 1,150 living Americans carry the first name Kal. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Kal today is around 21 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kal births was 2021 (72 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kal. 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
1.1K
~ 1 in 298,047 Americans
Peak year
2021
72 babies that year
Average age
21
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,349
Tracked since 1947
Popularity
Kal: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kal from the 1940s through to the 2020s, spanning 9 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 420 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Kal remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kal 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 Kal during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Kals live
The SSA's state-level files cover 10 states and territories. California, Texas, Utah recorded the most babies named Kal, while Tennessee, South Dakota, Missouri recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 14 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Kal
The name Kal has its origins in the Sanskrit language, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that originated in the Indian subcontinent. It is believed to have been derived from the word "kala," which means "time" or "death." In Hinduism, Kal or Kala is often personified as the lord of time and death, and is associated with the cycle of birth and rebirth.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kal can be found in the ancient Hindu text, the Mahabharata. In this epic, Kal is mentioned as a powerful deity who represents the inevitability of death and the passage of time. The name has also been referenced in other Hindu scriptures, such as the Puranas and the Upanishads.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Kal. One of the most famous was Kal Bhairav, a fierce manifestation of the Hindu deity Shiva, who is revered as the destroyer of evil and the protector of the righteous. Kal Bhairav is often depicted with a fearsome appearance, carrying a sword and a noose, symbolizing the inevitable cycle of life and death.
Another prominent figure with the name Kal was Kal Naag, a mythical serpent king who is believed to have ruled the underworld in Hindu mythology. According to legends, Kal Naag was a powerful and cunning being who possessed immense strength and wisdom.
In the realm of art and literature, Kal Krishan Sharma (1866-1953) was a renowned Kashmiri poet and writer who made significant contributions to the literary landscape of the region. His works explored themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition, earning him recognition as one of the greatest poets of his time.
Moving to more recent history, Kal Penn (born 1977) is an American actor, producer, and former White House staff member. He gained widespread recognition for his role as Kumar Patel in the popular "Harold & Kumar" film series, which explored themes of friendship, identity, and cultural stereotypes.
Lastly, Kal Yafai (born 1989) is a British professional boxer who has held multiple world titles in the super-flyweight division. Known for his tenacity and skill in the ring, Yafai has made a significant impact in the world of boxing, earning respect and admiration from fans and opponents alike.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Kal
People
Kal + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kal as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kal: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kal?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,150 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kal 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 298,047 US residents.
Is Kal a common name?
We classify Kal as "Rare". It ranks above 91% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,195 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kal most popular?
The single biggest year for Kal was 2021, when 72 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kal is about 21 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Kal a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kal 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.