Kalais
A feminine name of uncertain origin, potentially derived from Greek.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Kalais. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Kalais today is around 7 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kalais births was 2019 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kalais. 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 Kalais. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2019
5 babies that year
Average age
7
years old
2019 SSA rank
#13,111
Tracked since 2019
Popularity
Kalais: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Kalais 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 Kalais during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Kalais
The name Kalais is believed to have originated from the ancient Greek language. It is derived from the Greek word "kalos," which means "beautiful" or "noble." The name was first recorded in various ancient Greek texts and literature dating back to the 5th century BC.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Kalais was a Greek sculptor who lived in the 5th century BC. His works were highly regarded during his time, and some of his sculptures can still be found in museums today. Unfortunately, not much is known about his personal life or the specific dates of his birth and death.
In Greek mythology, Kalais was also the name of one of the Argonauts who accompanied Jason on his quest for the Golden Fleece. According to the legends, Kalais was known for his bravery and skill as a warrior.
During the Byzantine era, the name Kalais gained popularity among the Greek Orthodox Christian community. It was often given to boys as a way to express the parents' desire for their child to possess noble qualities and beauty of character.
One notable figure in history with the name Kalais was a 12th-century Greek scholar and philosopher. He was born in Constantinople in 1120 and became renowned for his contributions to the study of Aristotelian philosophy. He wrote several influential treatises and taught at various universities in the Byzantine Empire until his death in 1198.
Another noteworthy individual with the name Kalais was a Greek military leader who lived during the 14th century. He played a significant role in the defense of Constantinople against the Ottoman Turks during the siege of 1394. While the exact dates of his birth and death are unknown, historical records mention his bravery and strategic leadership during this crucial period.
In more recent times, the name Kalais has been relatively uncommon, but there have been a few individuals who carried this name. For example, Kalais Kyriakidis was a Greek painter and sculptor who lived from 1877 to 1944. He was known for his unique style that blended elements of traditional Greek art with modern techniques.
Overall, the name Kalais has a rich history rooted in ancient Greek culture and mythology. It has been associated with qualities such as beauty, nobility, and bravery throughout the centuries, making it a unique and meaningful name choice.
People
Kalais + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kalais 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
Kalais: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kalais?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kalais 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Kalais a common name?
We classify Kalais as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kalais most popular?
The single biggest year for Kalais was 2019, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kalais is about 7 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 Kalais in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kalais a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kalais 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 Kalais still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kalais 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 Kalais 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 are called Kalais?
You can see how many people share the name Kalais on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.