Kestrel
The term kestrel is the common name given to several species of predatory birds from the falcon genus Falco.
Meaning & Origin of Kestrel
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
The term kestrel is the common name given to several species of predatory birds from the falcon genus Falco.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Kestrel
As a girl name
Kestrel first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1985, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2019, when 19 Kestrels were born — ranking #6,176 that year. As of 2026, Kestrel ranks #8,794 for girls with 10 births, falling sharply (-18%). In total, more than 316 Kestrels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Kestrel first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 2012, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2023, when 6 Kestrels were born — ranking #10,812 that year. As of 2026, Kestrel ranks #10,889 for boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 27 Kestrels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Kestrel
Phonetically similar names — useful when Kestrel is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Coistrel
- Castrol
- Kestrels
- Kestel
- Gastral
- Cutrell
- Kittrell
- Coastal
- Castel
- Costal
- Castile
- Castell
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kestrel
What does the name Kestrel mean?
How popular is Kestrel in 2026?
When was Kestrel most popular?
In which U.S. states is Kestrel most popular?
Is Kestrel a unisex name?
What names go well with Kestrel?
About the name Kestrel
Kestrel is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1985 and has accumulated 316 births in the dataset. Kestrel's peak popularity came in 2019 when it ranked #6,176. Use the chart and map above to compare Kestrel's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2019 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "K" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.