Kraven
A masculine given name derived from Russian, meaning "conqueror" or "victor".
Name Census estimates that about 143 living Americans carry the first name Kraven. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Kraven today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kraven births was 2006 (17 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kraven. 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
143
~ 1 in 2,396,883 Americans
Peak year
2006
17 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2024 SSA rank
#11,703
Tracked since 2004
Popularity
Kraven: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kraven from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 71 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kraven 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 Kraven during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Kravens live
Origin
Meaning and history of Kraven
The name Kraven is believed to have its origins in the Slavic languages, particularly Russian. It is derived from the Old Russian word "krav," which means "raven" or "crow." The name likely emerged during the medieval period in regions where Slavic cultures and languages were prevalent, such as modern-day Russia, Ukraine, and parts of Eastern Europe.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kraven can be traced back to the 12th century, when it appeared in historical documents from the Principality of Galicia-Volhynia, a medieval state located in modern-day western Ukraine and eastern Poland. During this time, the name was often associated with warriors or individuals known for their bravery and strength, perhaps drawing inspiration from the resilient and fierce nature of the raven bird.
In the 15th century, a notable figure named Kraven Ivanovich was mentioned in the chronicles of the Grand Duchy of Moscow. He was a military commander who led several campaigns against the Golden Horde, a powerful Mongol khanate that ruled over parts of Russia at the time. Kraven Ivanovich's exploits and valor in battle may have contributed to the name's association with courage and determination.
Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Kraven gained popularity among the Russian nobility and aristocracy. One prominent individual was Kraven Petrovich Saltykov (1548-1613), a boyar (nobleman) who served as a military leader and diplomat under Tsar Boris Godunov. He played a significant role in the Russian-Swedish War and was known for his negotiation skills.
In the 18th century, a famous Russian writer and playwright named Kraven Fyodorovich Kvitka (1778-1843) emerged. He was renowned for his humorous and satirical works, which often portrayed the daily life and struggles of the Ukrainian and Russian people during that era.
Another notable figure was Kraven Nikolayevich Lebedev (1891-1957), a Soviet scientist and pioneer in the field of aerodynamics. He made significant contributions to the development of aircraft design and was awarded the prestigious Stalin Prize for his groundbreaking work.
While the name Kraven has its roots in Slavic cultures, it has also been adopted and used in various forms across different regions and languages over time, reflecting the influence of cultural exchange and migration patterns throughout history.
People
Kraven + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kraven 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
Kraven: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kraven?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 143 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kraven 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 2,396,883 US residents.
Is Kraven a common name?
We classify Kraven as "Very Rare". It ranks above 69.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 144 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kraven most popular?
The single biggest year for Kraven was 2006, when 17 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kraven 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 Kraven in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kraven a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kraven 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 Kraven still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kraven 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 Kraven 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 have the name Kraven?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans are named Kraven on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.