Boy · #10,768 in 2026

Kern

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

Current Rank

#10,768

Peak Rank

#1,665 (1952)

Total Babies

744

5-Yr Trend

Stable

1914

First Year

2012

Last Year

1952

Peak Year

#1665

Peak Rank

744

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Kern

Kern first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1914, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1952, when 21 Kerns were born — ranking #1,665 that year. As of 2026, Kern ranks #10,768 for baby boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 744 Kerns have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Kern

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

Kearn
Curn
Kirn
Kurn
Krn
Kerne
Crme
Crm
Krm
Gurn
Gern
Girn

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kern

What does the name Kern mean?

Kern is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1914. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Kern in 2026?

In 2026, Kern ranks #10,768 among boys' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.

When was Kern most popular?

Kern reached its peak popularity in 1952, ranking #1,665 that year with 21 babies given the name.

In which U.S. states is Kern most popular?

Kern has historically been most popular in California, New York. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Kern.

Is Kern a unisex name?

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

What names go well with Kern?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Kern include Tysen, Rajon, Cordae. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Kern

Kern is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1914 and has accumulated 744 births in the dataset. Kern's peak popularity came in 1952 when it ranked #1,665. Use the chart and map above to compare Kern'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.