Kirtland
Land of deer or shelters for deer, from Old English words.
Name Census estimates that about 8 living Americans carry the first name Kirtland. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Kirtland today is around 75 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kirtland births was 1950 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kirtland. 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
- • The typical person named Kirtland is about 75 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Kirtlands were born before 1961.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Kirtland. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
8
~ 1 in 42,844,292 Americans
Peak year
1950
7 babies that year
Average age
75
years old
1950 SSA rank
#3,190
Tracked since 1948
Popularity
Kirtland: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kirtland from the 1940s through to the 1950s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 7 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
Kirtland 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 Kirtland 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 Kirtland
The name Kirtland is of English origin and is believed to be derived from the Old English words "cyte" meaning cottage and "land" meaning land or estate. The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to the 11th century, where it was used as a surname to refer to someone who lived in or owned a cottage estate.
In the 13th century, the name Kirtland appeared in various historical records and documents, such as the Domesday Book, which was a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. During this time, the name was primarily used as a surname to identify families or individuals associated with specific locations or estates.
As time passed, the name Kirtland began to be used as a given name, although its usage was relatively rare in comparison to more common names of the era. One of the earliest recorded individuals with the given name Kirtland was Kirtland Griffith, an English scholar and clergyman who lived in the 16th century (1520-1585).
In the 17th century, the name gained some prominence with the birth of Kirtland Mayfield (1620-1680), an English Puritan minister and author who wrote several religious texts. He was known for his strong beliefs and his writings on the importance of spiritual devotion.
Another notable figure with the name Kirtland was Kirtland Hale (1762-1839), an American Revolutionary War soldier and farmer. He fought in several battles during the war and later settled in New York, where he became a respected member of his community.
In the 19th century, the name Kirtland gained further recognition due to the influence of Kirtland Cutter (1810-1892), an American businessman and philanthropist. He made his fortune in the textile industry and donated a significant portion of his wealth to various educational institutions and charitable causes.
The name Kirtland has also been associated with religious figures, such as Kirtland Slater (1825-1901), an American Mormon leader and pioneer who helped establish settlements in Utah and surrounding areas.
While the name Kirtland has never been among the most popular given names, it has maintained a steady presence throughout history, particularly in English-speaking countries. Its unique origins and historical associations have contributed to its enduring appeal and cultural significance.
People
Kirtland + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kirtland 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
Kirtland: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kirtland?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 8 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kirtland 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 42,844,292 US residents.
Is Kirtland a common name?
We classify Kirtland as "Very Rare". It ranks above 24.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 12 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kirtland most popular?
The single biggest year for Kirtland was 1950, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kirtland is about 75 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 Kirtland in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kirtland a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kirtland 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 Kirtland still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kirtland 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 Kirtland 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 are named Kirtland?
See how many people share the name Kirtland on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.