Kelik
A masculine Indonesian name meaning "younger child" or "little one".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Kelik. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Kelik today is around 19 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kelik births was 2007 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kelik. 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 Kelik. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2007
5 babies that year
Average age
19
years old
2007 SSA rank
#13,449
Tracked since 2007
Popularity
Kelik: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Kelik 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 Kelik during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Kelik
The name Kelik is believed to have originated from the Old Turkic language, spoken by various nomadic groups in Central Asia during the medieval period. Its roots can be traced back to the 8th or 9th century AD, when the Turkic peoples were at the height of their power and influence.
One possible derivation of the name Kelik is from the Turkic word "kelek," which means "raft" or "boat." This connection suggests that the name may have been associated with those involved in river trades or water-based occupations. Another theory proposes that Kelik is a combination of the Turkic words "kel" (meaning "to come") and "ik" (a diminutive suffix), potentially implying a meaning of "one who comes" or "the arrival."
While the name Kelik does not appear to have any direct references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its Turkic origins place it within the rich cultural tapestry of the nomadic tribes that roamed the vast steppes of Central Asia. These tribes played a pivotal role in shaping the history and cultural exchange along the Silk Road trade routes.
The earliest recorded examples of the name Kelik are found in historical records and documents from the 10th to 12th centuries, during the height of the Seljuk Empire and the Khwarazmian Dynasty in Central Asia. Some notable individuals who bore the name Kelik include:
1. Kelik Tuğrul (c. 1030-1092), a prominent military commander and courtier of the Seljuk Empire, known for his victories against the Byzantine Empire.
2. Kelik Arslan (c. 1080-1144), a Seljuk prince and governor of various territories in modern-day Iran and Afghanistan.
3. Kelik Atabeg (c. 1120-1186), a nobleman and military leader in the service of the Khwarazmian Dynasty, renowned for his diplomatic skills.
4. Kelik Shah (c. 1170-1235), a ruler of the Qara Khitai Empire, a formidable Turkic kingdom that ruled over parts of Central Asia and modern-day China.
5. Kelik Bey (c. 1280-1345), a prominent military commander and advisor to the Ilkhanid rulers of Persia, known for his role in the Mongol invasions of Syria and Palestine.
Throughout its history, the name Kelik has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including warriors, rulers, and statesmen, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the Turkic peoples and their significant impact on the political and military landscape of Central Asia during the medieval period.
People
Kelik + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kelik 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
Kelik: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kelik?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kelik 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 Kelik a common name?
We classify Kelik 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 Kelik most popular?
The single biggest year for Kelik was 2007, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kelik is about 19 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 Kelik in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kelik a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kelik 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 Kelik still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kelik 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 Kelik 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 Kelik?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.