Kalvin
Kalvin was the 1567th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 109 babies. Its best year was 1988, when it ranked 907th; the most babies were born in 2017 (177). Over the last ten years it has moved down 431 places. More babies were named Kalvin in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Calvin) little bald one · French, Latin
- Rank in 2025
- #1,567 boys, down 264 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 109boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2017177 babies
- Total since 1880
- 6,726babies recorded
What does the name Kalvin mean?
Kalvin is a spelling of Calvin, pronounced the same way, so it shares Calvin's meaning and origin.
Calvin comes from the French surname Cauvin, a nickname for a bald man, from Latin calvus, 'bald'; DMNES and Wiktionary agree. Its Latin form Calvinus was used by the French reformer Jean Cauvin, known in English as John Calvin (1509 to 1564), and Wikipedia notes that the name was taken up by Protestants in his honor. Cal is the usual short form.
calvus (Latin, “bald”)Cauvin (Old French (Picard), “bald man”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Cal, Calvino, Kalvin.
See also: French names.
Sources for this meaning
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Calvin', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- Wiktionary, entry 'Calvin', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Calvin (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Kalvin popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,567 | 109 |
| 2020 | #1,303 | 139 |
| 2010 | #1,336 | 128 |
| 2000 | #1,170 | 118 |
| 1990 | #942 | 121 |
| 1980 | #1,279 | 53 |
| 1970 | #1,245 | 45 |
| 1960 | #1,026 | 56 |
| 1950 | #1,850 | 17 |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Kalvin, counting every spelling?
Kalvin is a spelling of Calvin, a name family that ranked #134 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,567 for Kalvin on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,819 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calvin | 2,710 | #132 | 12,884 |
| Kalvin | 109 | #1,567 | 548 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Kalvin?
109 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Kalvin (0.03 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Kalvin born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 77 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Kalvin.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Kalvin?
About 6,300 people born in the US named Kalvin are alive today, with a median age of 24; half are between 12 and 38. That makes Kalvin mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Kalvin by state
How common Kalvin was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Ohio (1.6×). In 37 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Kalvin: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Kalvin, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Kalvin
What does Kalvin mean?
Kalvin is a spelling of Calvin, which means “little bald one” (French, Latin origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Kalvin?
Kalvin was the 1567th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 109 babies. Its best year was 1988, when it ranked 907th; the most babies were born in 2017 (177). Over the last ten years it has moved down 431 places. More babies were named Kalvin in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Kalvin a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Kalvin in the US.
Where is Kalvin most popular?
In 2021–2025, Kalvin was most common in Ohio (0.10 per 1,000 boys), followed by Arizona and Kansas.