Kalahan
An invented name of uncertain meaning and origin.
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Kalahan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Kalahan today is around 4 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kalahan births was 2021 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kalahan. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Kalahan. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
2021
5 babies that year
Average age
4
years old
2024 SSA rank
#13,190
Tracked since 2021
Popularity
Kalahan: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Kalahan 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 Kalahan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Kalahan
The name Kalahan has its origins in the ancient Polynesian language and culture. It is derived from the Proto-Polynesian root word "kala", meaning "skilled" or "adept", and "hana", meaning "work" or "craft". Thus, the name Kalahan can be interpreted as "skilled craftsman" or "adept worker".
This name was commonly used in the island nations of the South Pacific, such as Samoa, Tonga, and Hawaii, during the pre-colonial era. It was often bestowed upon skilled artisans, builders, and makers of canoes, weapons, and other essential tools.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kalahan can be found in the oral traditions and chants of the Hawaiian people. These ancient tales often reference a master canoe builder named Kalahan, who was renowned for his exceptional craftsmanship and knowledge of traditional boat-making techniques.
In the 16th century, a Samoan chief named Kalahan was documented by European explorers as a skilled navigator and leader of his people. His expertise in reading the stars and navigating the open ocean earned him great respect among his contemporaries.
Another notable figure was Kalahan, a Tongan woodcarver who lived in the 18th century. His intricate and detailed carvings adorned many important structures and canoes, and his work was highly sought after throughout the region.
During the 19th century, a Hawaiian chief named Kalahan played a significant role in the unification of the Hawaiian Islands under King Kamehameha I. He was a respected warrior and advisor to the king, known for his strategic thinking and diplomatic skills.
In more recent times, a Samoan artist named Kalahan Uale (1920-2005) gained international recognition for his intricate and vibrant tapa cloth designs, which blended traditional Polynesian motifs with modern aesthetics.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Kalahan throughout history, each contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of the Polynesian people in their own unique way.
People
Kalahan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kalahan 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
Kalahan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kalahan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kalahan 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 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Kalahan a common name?
We classify Kalahan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kalahan most popular?
The single biggest year for Kalahan was 2021, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kalahan is about 4 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 Kalahan in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kalahan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kalahan 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 Kalahan still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kalahan 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 Kalahan 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 Americans are named Kalahan?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.