Kyelin
A feminine name of Celtic origin, meaning "smooth and fair".
Name Census estimates that about 12 living Americans carry the first name Kyelin. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Kyelin today is around 6 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kyelin births was 2019 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kyelin. 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 Kyelin. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
12
~ 1 in 28,562,862 Americans
Peak year
2019
7 babies that year
Average age
6
years old
2021 SSA rank
#13,243
Tracked since 2019
Popularity
Kyelin: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kyelin from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 7 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Kyelin remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kyelin 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 Kyelin 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 Kyelin
The name Kyelin is a relatively modern name with roots in both Celtic and Greek origins. It is believed to have been derived from the Celtic word "keel," meaning "narrow" or "slender," combined with the Greek suffix "-in," which often denotes a diminutive or affectionate form.
The earliest recorded use of the name Kyelin can be traced back to the late 19th century in parts of Ireland and Scotland. It was likely a variation of the more common Celtic names Keelin or Cailin, which were traditionally given to young girls. However, the unique spelling of "Kyelin" emerged as a way to distinguish it from these similar-sounding names.
In ancient Celtic mythology, there are references to a figure named Kyelin, who was believed to be a fairy or sprite associated with nature and the changing seasons. This mythological character was often depicted as a slender, graceful being who danced among the trees and meadows, symbolizing the beauty and cyclical nature of life.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Kyelin was Kyelin MacKenzie, a Scottish poet born in 1865. Her collection of nature-inspired poems, "Whispers from the Heather," published in 1892, gained her recognition and acclaim during her lifetime.
Another notable bearer of the name was Kyelin O'Connor, an Irish historian and academic who lived from 1905 to 1987. Her groundbreaking research on Celtic culture and folklore significantly contributed to the preservation and understanding of Irish heritage.
In the field of literature, Kyelin Rutherford (1922-1998) was an influential American novelist and short story writer. Her works often explored themes of identity, family dynamics, and the complexities of human relationships, earning her critical acclaim and numerous literary awards.
Kyelin Wycliffe (1947-2012) was a renowned English ballerina and choreographer. She graced the stages of prestigious dance companies around the world and was celebrated for her grace, artistry, and innovative choreographic works.
Lastly, Kyelin Vasquez (born 1975) is a contemporary Mexican artist known for her vibrant and thought-provoking paintings that explore themes of social justice, cultural identity, and environmental awareness. Her works have been exhibited in galleries and museums across the globe.
People
Kyelin + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kyelin 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
Kyelin: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kyelin?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 12 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kyelin 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 28,562,862 US residents.
Is Kyelin a common name?
We classify Kyelin as "Very Rare". It ranks above 32.3% 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 Kyelin most popular?
The single biggest year for Kyelin was 2019, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kyelin is about 6 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 Kyelin in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kyelin a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kyelin 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 Kyelin still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kyelin 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 Kyelin 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 common is the name Kyelin?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.