Keldan
An invented name likely derived from an Old Norse element meaning "spring".
Name Census estimates that about 112 living Americans carry the first name Keldan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Keldan today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Keldan births was 2019 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Keldan. 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
112
~ 1 in 3,060,307 Americans
Peak year
2019
13 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2019 SSA rank
#6,607
Tracked since 2000
Popularity
Keldan: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Keldan from the 2000s through to the 2010s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 67 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Keldan 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 Keldan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Keldan
The given name Keldan finds its origins in the ancient Sumerian language, which was spoken in the southern regions of Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) around 3500 BCE. It is believed to be derived from the Sumerian words "kel" meaning "strong" and "dan" meaning "protector" or "guardian." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with strength, bravery, and the role of a defender or guardian.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Keldan can be found in the epic of Gilgamesh, an ancient Mesopotamian poem that dates back to around 2100 BCE. In this epic, Keldan is mentioned as the name of a mighty warrior who fought alongside the legendary hero Gilgamesh. This reference suggests that the name was already in use during the early Sumerian civilization and held connotations of valor and heroism.
Throughout the centuries, the name Keldan has been carried by various individuals, some of whom have left their mark on history. One notable figure was Keldan of Antioch, a Christian martyr who lived in the 3rd century CE. He was executed for his faith during the persecution of Christians under the Roman Emperor Decius. His unwavering devotion and sacrifice earned him recognition as a saint in the early Christian church.
In the 8th century CE, Keldan the Wise was a renowned scholar and philosopher from the city of Merv (present-day Turkmenistan). He is credited with making significant contributions to the fields of mathematics, astronomy, and logic during the Islamic Golden Age. His works were widely studied and influenced generations of scholars in the Middle East and beyond.
Another notable bearer of the name was Keldan the Explorer, a medieval traveler and adventurer who lived in the 12th century CE. He embarked on daring journeys across Europe and the Middle East, documenting his encounters with various cultures and civilizations. His detailed accounts and maps provided invaluable insights into the geography and customs of the lands he visited.
In the 16th century, Keldan of Genoa was a skilled navigator and cartographer who played a crucial role in the Age of Exploration. He accompanied several expeditions to the Americas and is credited with creating some of the earliest and most accurate maps of the Caribbean islands and the coastlines of South America.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Keldan, each leaving a lasting impact in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human civilization.
People
Keldan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Keldan 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
Keldan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Keldan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 112 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Keldan 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 3,060,307 US residents.
Is Keldan a common name?
We classify Keldan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 66.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 113 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Keldan most popular?
The single biggest year for Keldan was 2019, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Keldan is about 15 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 Keldan in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Keldan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Keldan 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 Keldan still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Keldan 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 Keldan 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 common is the name Keldan?
See how many Americans are named Keldan on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.