Krillin
A masculine name of East Asian origin meaning "little monk".
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Krillin. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Krillin today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Krillin births was 2003 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Krillin. 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 Krillin. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
2003
5 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2019 SSA rank
#13,244
Tracked since 2003
Popularity
Krillin: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Krillin from the 2000s through to the 2010s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 5 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
Krillin 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 Krillin 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 Krillin
The name Krillin is a fictional name that first appeared in the popular Japanese manga and anime series "Dragon Ball" by Akira Toriyama. It is not derived from any specific language or cultural origin, but rather was invented by the author for one of the main characters in the series.
While the name Krillin does not have any historical or etymological roots, it has become widely recognized and associated with the character in the Dragon Ball franchise. The character of Krillin is a short, bald martial artist who is one of the closest friends of the series' protagonist, Goku. His name is often attributed to his short stature and lack of hair, with some fans speculating that it may be a play on the word "krilin," meaning "dwarf" in Russian.
Despite being a fictional name, Krillin has become an iconic character in the Dragon Ball universe, appearing in the original manga series, multiple anime adaptations, and various video games and spin-off media. He is known for his loyalty, bravery, and comedic relief throughout the series, serving as a beloved supporting character in Goku's adventures.
While there are no historical figures or individuals named Krillin prior to the creation of the Dragon Ball series, the name has gained recognition among fans and has been adopted by some as a unique and quirky name choice, particularly for fans of the franchise.
It is important to note that the name Krillin is a proprietary creation of the Dragon Ball series and its author, Akira Toriyama. As such, it does not have any significant historical or cultural context outside of its fictional origins. However, its widespread popularity and association with the beloved character have solidified its place in popular culture and manga/anime fandom.
People
Krillin + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Krillin 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
Krillin: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Krillin?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Krillin 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 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Krillin a common name?
We classify Krillin as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Krillin most popular?
The single biggest year for Krillin was 2003, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Krillin 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 Krillin in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Krillin a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Krillin 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 Krillin still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Krillin 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 Krillin 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 Krillin?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people have the name Krillin at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.