Total births
4,019
Unisex name · since 1948
Kelby
Kelby has 4,019 recorded births since 1948 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1991 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #6250
- among boys today
- 4,019
- born since 1948
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 56%
- more common than other boys
Kelby currently ranks #6250 among unisex names in America, with 4,019 babies recorded since 1948.
Social Security Administration records show Kelby recorded 4,019 times among boys since 1948, holding rank #6250 nationally today, ahead of 56% of boys, peaking in the 1990s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1948 to 2025.
- #6250 among boys today
- 4,019 born since 1948
- 1990s peak decade
- 56% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Kelby is currently the #6250 unisex name in America, more common than 56% of boys - 4,019 born since 1948, peaking in the 1990s.
- #6250
- among boys today
- 4,019
- born since 1948
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 56%
- more common than other boys
Kelby vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#6250
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 56% of names given to boys today.
1990s
Peak decade
34% of everyone ever named Kelby was born in this single decade.
1991
Single peak year
187 babies were named Kelby in 1991 - its busiest year on record.
How Kelby compares
4,019 Top 14% higher than 86% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Kelby's all-time total is 11x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Kelby | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 4,019 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 187 | 23 | 22,252 |
Kelby's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Kelby's SSA record in two at 1989 and the more recent half accounts for 71% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 29%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1948, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1991 peak of 187, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Kelby at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1991
Current rank
#6,250
Active since
1948
Kelby popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1948–2025
- Peak year (1991)
- 187
- Annual births at peak, across 78 years of records
Kelby popularity over time - girls
1,563 total births recorded since 1974 (Kelby as girls' name)
Kelby by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1990s was Kelby's strongest decade.
1,364 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 34% of all-time use.
Kelby births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1940s 10
1940s
10 births
- 1950s 63
1950s
63 births
- 1960s 86
1960s
86 births
- 1970s 474
1970s
474 births
- 1980s
1980s
637 births
- 1990s
1990s
1,364 births
- 2000s
2000s
829 births
- 2010s 432
2010s
432 births
- 2020s 124
2020s
124 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 1,364 births (34% of all-time use).
How Kelby compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Kelby's total volume
Kelby vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Kelby by state
Where Kelby concentrates geographically, total births since 1948
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 387 | 9.6% |
| #2 | Oklahoma | | 131 | 3.3% |
| #3 | Utah | | 95 | 2.4% |
| #4 | Missouri | | 90 | 2.2% |
| #5 | Tennessee | | 61 | 1.5% |
| #6 | California | | 55 | 1.4% |
| #7 | Indiana | | 53 | 1.3% |
| #8 | Georgia | | 50 | 1.2% |
Texas share of Kelby's total US births 9.6%
Even split
387 of 4,019 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 30 reporting states.
Kelby appears in 30 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Kelby? ▼
Since 1948, Social Security records show 4,019 babies named Kelby. Today it holds rank #6250 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 1991, with 187 births.
When was Kelby most popular? ▼
Kelby was most popular in the 1990s decade with 1,364 total births. The single peak year was 1991.
Where is Kelby most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Kelby are Texas (387 births), Oklahoma (131 births), Utah (95 births).
Is Kelby a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Kelby is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 4,019 births, and as a girl's name it has 1,563 births.
How long has the name Kelby been used? ▼
Records for Kelby go back to 1948, giving 78 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Kelby? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Kelly, Kelvin, Kellen, Kellan, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Kelby's data
- Kelby's decade-level peak was the 1990s (1,364 total births); usage has since declined to 124 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Texas records the most Kelbys (387 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Kelby
Nearby Names Like Kelby
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Kelby
Kelly Boy
#1585 82,400 births
Kelvin Boy
#1082 51,551 births
Kellen Boy
#1032 17,042 births
Kellan Boy
#920 10,752 births
Kelton Boy
#2428 6,640 births
Compare Kelby side by side: Kelby vs Kelly Kelby vs Kelvin Kelby vs Kellen
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Kelby
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1948–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Kelby: #6250 Unisex Name - 4,019 Births, Peak 1991." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/kelby. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Kelby draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.