Kedeem
Of Hebrew origin, meaning "ancient" or "eternal".
Name Census estimates that about 14 living Americans carry the first name Kedeem. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Kedeem today is around 34 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kedeem births was 1990 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kedeem. 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 Kedeem. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
14
~ 1 in 24,482,453 Americans
Peak year
1990
9 babies that year
Average age
34
years old
1993 SSA rank
#9,480
Tracked since 1990
Popularity
Kedeem: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Kedeem 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 Kedeem during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 14 | 0 | 14 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Kedeem
The name Kedeem is believed to have originated from the ancient Sumerian language, which was spoken in the region of Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq) around 3500 BC. It is derived from the Sumerian word "kedu," which means "to endure" or "to last forever." The name is thought to have been given to children as a wish for them to have a long and prosperous life.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Kedeem can be found in the epic of Gilgamesh, one of the oldest known works of literature, dating back to around 2100 BC. In the epic, Kedeem is the name of a wise and respected elder who guides the hero Gilgamesh on his journey.
During the reign of the Akkadian Empire (2350-2150 BC), the name Kedeem was popular among the ruling class. One notable figure from this period was Kedeem-Nasir, a high-ranking official and advisor to King Sargon of Akkad.
In ancient Egyptian texts, the name Kedeem appears as a variant spelling of the word "kemet," which means "the black land," referring to the fertile soil along the Nile River. It is believed that some Egyptians adopted the name as a symbol of their connection to the land.
In the 5th century BC, a Greek philosopher named Kedeem of Miletus was known for his contributions to the development of early astronomy and mathematics. He is credited with predicting a solar eclipse in 585 BC, which helped establish the scientific basis for astronomy.
During the Islamic Golden Age (8th-13th centuries AD), the name Kedeem was popular among scholars and intellectuals. One notable figure was Kedeem al-Razi, a Persian polymath who made significant contributions to fields such as medicine, philosophy, and chemistry. He lived from 854 to 925 AD.
In the 12th century, a Jewish rabbi and philosopher named Kedeem ben Judah Halevi, also known as Judah Halevi, was born in Spain. He is famous for his works on Jewish philosophy and his poetry, which expressed a deep longing for the Land of Israel.
In the 16th century, a Turkish admiral named Kedeem Reis played a significant role in the Ottoman Empire's naval campaigns in the Mediterranean. He is credited with several victories against the forces of the Knights of St. John and the Spanish Empire.
During the 17th century, a Persian poet and mystic named Kedeem Khani was renowned for his works that combined Sufi mysticism with themes of love and spirituality. His poetry had a profound influence on the literary tradition of the region.
People
Kedeem + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kedeem 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
Kedeem: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kedeem?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 14 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kedeem 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 24,482,453 US residents.
Is Kedeem a common name?
We classify Kedeem as "Very Rare". It ranks above 34% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 14 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kedeem most popular?
The single biggest year for Kedeem was 1990, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kedeem is about 34 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 Kedeem in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kedeem a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kedeem 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 Kedeem still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kedeem 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 Kedeem 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 Kedeem?
For a quick modern take, check how many people share the name Kedeem on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.