How Many People Are Named Kelsey?

Complete statistics for the name Kelsey: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Kelsey
Rare
Old English

Kelsey means 'wood' in Old English and has been a rare choice for girls since records began. That's just 1 in 2,170 Americans who go by this name today, making it pretty unique. The peak was way back in 1992 when 11,882 babies were given this name.

~13,536
Living in US
1 in 24,487
Americans
1992
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Wood
🌐
Origin
Old English
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 5
Personality Traits
Adventurous Dynamic
5
Life Path Number

Life-path number 5 symbolizes freedom, adventure, and versatility.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

153,244
Worldwide Bearers
#14,982
Global Rank
🇺🇸 United States
152,091
🇳🇬 Nigeria
141
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland
133
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales
122
🇵🇭 Philippines
112
🇨🇳 China
105
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
80
🇧🇪 Belgium
55
🇶🇦 Qatar
51
🇩🇪 Germany
50

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
4,614 (3%)
♀ Female
147,477 (97%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 31
52,206
Would be under 30 (34%)
102,136
Would be 30–60 (66%)
1,041
Would be over 60 (1%)

All 155,383 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1992

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Declining

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
99
Classic Feel
46
Modern Appeal
64
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Kelsey Through the Generations

Kelsey has seen its popularity rise and fall over the decades, peaking in 1992 with 11,882 births. Today, there are around 152,091 people named Kelsey living in the United States, showing a steady presence despite the declining trend. The age distribution reveals a fairly even spread, with 34% under 30, 65% aged 30-60, and only 1% over 60, indicating a name that bridges classic and modern sensibilities.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

California 12,386
Texas 9,937
Ohio 7,481
Illinois 6,816
Pennsylvania 6,691
Michigan 6,272
New York 6,192
Florida 5,471
Missouri 4,500
Indiana 4,410

⭐ Famous People Named Kelsey

Kelsey is a given name of English origin. The name most probably derives from an Old English given name Cēolsiġe, which meant "ship's victory", or it could be a place name meaning "Cenel's island". "Cenel's Island" is a combination of the Old English word "cenel", meaning "fierce", and "eg", meaning island.…

Full list on Wikipedia →

✨ Similar Names to Kelsey

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Kelsey's Old English roots

📄 About the Name Kelsey

How Many People Have the Name Kelsey?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 13,536 people in the United States currently share the name Kelsey. That works out to roughly 1 in every 24,487 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.

Is Kelsey a Common or Rare Name?

Kelsey is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Kelsey Mean?

Kelsey means "wood" and comes from Old English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 5.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Kelsey in SSA data, approximately 3% are male and 97% are female.

When Was Kelsey Most Popular?

The name Kelsey reached peak popularity in 1992, with 11,882 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Kelsey?

Approximately 13,536 people named Kelsey live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 13,536. That works out to roughly 1 in 24,487 Americans.

Is Kelsey a rare name?

Kelsey is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 24,487 Americans has this name.

What does the name Kelsey mean?

Kelsey means "wood" and comes from Old English origins.

Is Kelsey more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 3% of people named Kelsey are male and 97% are female.

When was Kelsey most popular?

Kelsey peaked in 1992 with 11,882 births that year. Current trend: Declining.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US13,536
All-Time Births13,536
1 in X1 in 24,487
RarityRare
GenderFemale
Avg Age31
Peak Year1992
World Rank#14,982
Male %3%
Female %97%

Check the statistics for any first or last name

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.