Kellen first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Kellen has been for the last 49 years (from 1975 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Kellen

A masculine given name of Irish origin meaning "slender" or "small".

Popularity of Kellen by gender

Based on the last 49 years of data, Kellen is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 93% of people named Kellen being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 250 male babies and 10 female babies born with the name Kellen.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 10 baby girls were named Kellen in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 250 10
2022 298 14
2021 271 12
2020 291 13
2019 308 11
2018 346 12
2017 420 10
2016 440 16
2015 569 25
2014 672 12
2013 759 19
2012 932 22
2011 879 23
2010 840 26
2009 653 24
2008 628 23
2007 519 20
2006 487 21
2005 471 20
2004 475 37
2003 387 30
2002 270 17
2001 242 15
2000 266 22
1999 223 25
1998 192 29
1997 190 26
1996 207 37
1995 228 39
1994 164 44
1993 184 42
1992 171 41
1991 189 39
1990 234 27
1989 229 40
1988 290 57
1987 294 54
1986 318 51
1985 355 40
1984 342 25
1983 383 33
1982 408 40
1981 191 31
1980 44 9
1979 11 5
1978 5 0
1977 5 0
1975 5 7

The history of the first name Kellen

The given name Kellen is thought to have originated from the Gaelic language, specifically from the Irish word "cailín" which means "young girl" or "maiden." This name gained popularity during the medieval period in Ireland and Scotland.

In its earliest forms, the name was spelled as "Caillen" or "Callen," and it was often used as a diminutive form of the name Caitlín (Cathleen or Kathleen). The name eventually evolved into the modern spelling of "Kellen."

While there are no known historical references to the name Kellen in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it was likely used as a common given name among the Celtic populations of Ireland and Scotland during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Kellen can be found in the Irish Annals, which mention a "Callen Ó Ruairc" in the 13th century. Ó Ruairc was a prominent Irish surname at the time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Kellen:

  1. Kellen Winslow Sr. (born 1957), an American former professional football player who played in the National Football League (NFL) as a tight end for the San Diego Chargers.

  2. Kellen Winslow Jr. (born 1983), an American former professional football player who played in the NFL as a tight end, following in his father's footsteps.

  3. Kellen Moore (born 1989), an American football coach and former professional quarterback who currently serves as the head coach of the Chargers.

  4. Kellen Clemens (born 1983), an American former professional football player who played in the NFL as a quarterback.

  5. Kellen Wilson (born 1996), an American singer-songwriter and musician known for her work in the country music genre.

These examples showcase the diverse backgrounds and professions of individuals who have carried the name Kellen throughout history, from athletes and coaches to musicians and entertainers.

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 Kellen was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kellen, 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!

"Kellen first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 18, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/kellen-meaning-and-history/.

"Kellen first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/kellen-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 18 October, 2024

Kellen first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/kellen-meaning-and-history/.

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