How Many People Are Named Kelso?
Complete statistics for the name Kelso: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Kelso is a place-derived name with roots in the Scottish Borders, and it's quite a rare find as a given name. Only about 273 people in the United States currently carry this name, meaning roughly 1 in 1,208,632 Americans are named Kelso. The name hit its peak in 2024 with 24 births, signaling a clear upward trend.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life-path number 8 represents ambition, authority, and material achievement. It's associated with strong leadership skills, financial acumen, and the drive to build something lasting.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 37All 373 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: 2024Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Rising
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Kelso Through the Generations
Kelso's story through the generations is genuinely fascinating because it's almost entirely a modern phenomenon. Of the 373 total births ever recorded in the US, a striking 70% of living bearers are under 30, with 261 people in that younger group. Only 5 individuals fall in the 30-to-60 range, creating an unusual gap that suggests this name virtually disappeared for decades before its recent surge. Among those over 60, there are 107 bearers, which hints at a brief earlier wave of popularity that faded quickly. The average age of someone named Kelso today is 37, pulled upward by that older cohort. Globally, it's ranked #395,119 with just 465 living bearers worldwide, making it exceptionally uncommon on the international stage. What's exciting is the trajectory: 2024 marked the name's all-time peak at 24 births, and that rising trend suggests we'll be hearing it more often. It wouldn't be surprising to see Kelso continue climbing as parents seek distinctive, place-inspired names with strong sounds.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Kelso's Scottish roots
📄 About the Name Kelso
How Many People Have the Name Kelso?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 8,169 people in the United States currently share the name Kelso. That works out to roughly 1 in every 40,574 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.
Is Kelso a Common or Rare Name?
Kelso 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 Kelso Mean?
Kelso means "Ridge near a chalk cliff" and comes from Scottish origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 8.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Kelso in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.
When Was Kelso Most Popular?
The name Kelso reached peak popularity in 2024, with 24 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.
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 Kelso?
Approximately 8,169 people named Kelso live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 8,169. That works out to roughly 1 in 40,574 Americans.
Is Kelso a rare name?
Kelso is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 40,574 Americans has this name.
What does the name Kelso mean?
Kelso means "Ridge near a chalk cliff" and comes from Scottish origins.
Is Kelso more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 100% of people named Kelso are male and 0% are female.
When was Kelso most popular?
Kelso peaked in 2024 with 24 births that year. Current trend: Rising.
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.