Boy · #9,864 in 2026

Kel

Name: Popularity of the name Kel in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Kel, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Current Rank

#9,864

Peak Rank

#4,890 (2001)

Total Babies

240

5-Yr Trend

-8%

1956

First Year

2024

Last Year

2001

Peak Year

#4890

Peak Rank

240

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Kel

Kel first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1956, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2001, when 15 Kels were born — ranking #4,890 that year. As of 2026, Kel ranks #9,864 for baby boys with 7 births, gradually falling (-8%). In total, more than 240 Kels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Kel

Phonetically similar names — useful when Kel is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Kell
Kelle
Kehl
Kill
Cull
Kil
Chel
Kille
Cul
Kull
Kul
Chol

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kel

What does the name Kel mean?

Kel is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1956. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Kel in 2026?

In 2026, Kel ranks #9,864 among boys' names in the U.S., with 7 babies given the name that year.

When was Kel most popular?

Kel reached its peak popularity in 2001, ranking #4,890 that year with 15 babies given the name.

Is Kel a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Kel is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Kel?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Kel include Isiac, Damyon, Michah. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Kel

Kel is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1956 and has accumulated 240 births in the dataset. Kel's peak popularity came in 2001 when it ranked #4,890. Use the chart and map above to compare Kel's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.