Find out how popular the first name Kelle has been for the last 30 years (from 1974 to 2003) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Kelle by gender

Based on the last 30 years of data, Kelle is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 98% of people named Kelle being female.

For the most recent data in 2003, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Kelle.

The history of the first name Kelle

The name Kelle is a German variant of the feminine name Kella, which is believed to have its origins in the Old High German word "kella" or "chella," meaning "cellar" or "cave." This connection suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who lived in or worked in cellars or caves.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kelle can be found in the 12th century, when it was mentioned in the Codex Traditionum Monasterii Sancti Petri Salisburgensis, a medieval manuscript containing records of the Archbishopric of Salzburg. This document provides evidence that the name was in use during the High Middle Ages in the region of present-day Austria and southern Germany.

In the 16th century, the name Kelle gained prominence through the life of Kelle Weyse, a German Benedictine nun and abbess who lived from 1529 to 1599. She served as the abbess of the Monastery of St. John in Münsterschwarzach, Bavaria, and was known for her piety and leadership.

Another notable figure with the name Kelle was Kelle von Luder, a German noblewoman and landowner who lived in the 14th century. She was born in 1320 and owned extensive properties in the region of Hesse, which she bequeathed to the Teutonic Order upon her death in 1386.

In the realm of literature, the name Kelle appears in the works of the German writer and philosopher Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. In his novel "Die Leiden des jungen Werther" (The Sorrows of Young Werther), published in 1774, one of the characters is named Kelle Lenette.

Kelle Stine was a Danish writer and translator who lived from 1842 to 1915. She is known for her translations of works by renowned authors such as Charles Dickens and Hans Christian Andersen, as well as for her own literary contributions, including the novel "Inger Johanne" published in 1889.

While the name Kelle has its roots in German-speaking regions, it has also been used in other parts of the world, although with less frequency. It is important to note that this report focuses solely on the first name Kelle and does not cover its usage as a surname or last name.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Kelle was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kelle, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!