Total births
586
Unisex name · since 1979
Kelechi
Kelechi has 586 recorded births since 1979 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 2002 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #6597
- among boys today
- 586
- born since 1979
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 54%
- more common than other boys
586 babies have been named Kelechi since 1979, making it today's #6597 unisex name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Kelechi has been recorded 586 times among boys since 1979, currently ranked #6597 nationally and more common than 54% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 2000s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1979 to 2025.
- #6597 among boys today
- 586 born since 1979
- 2000s peak decade
- 54% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Kelechi is currently the #6597 unisex name in America, more common than 54% of boys - 586 born since 1979, peaking in the 2000s.
- #6597
- among boys today
- 586
- born since 1979
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 54%
- more common than other boys
Kelechi vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#6597
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 54% of names given to boys today.
2000s
Peak decade
29% of everyone ever named Kelechi was born in this single decade.
2002
Single peak year
24 babies were named Kelechi in 2002 - its busiest year on record.
How Kelechi compares
586 Top 40% higher than 60% 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
Kelechi's all-time total is 60% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Kelechi | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 586 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 24 | 23 | 22,252 |
Kelechi's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Kelechi's SSA record in two at 2004 and the more recent half accounts for 52% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 48%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1979, with only 6 births recorded -- set against the 2002 peak of 24, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Kelechi at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2002
Current rank
#6,597
Active since
1979
Kelechi popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1979–2025
- Peak year (2002)
- 24
- Annual births at peak, across 47 years of records
Kelechi popularity over time - girls
261 total births recorded since 1980 (Kelechi as girls' name)
Kelechi by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Kelechi's strongest decade.
170 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 29% of all-time use.
Kelechi births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 6
1970s
6 births
- 1980s 61
1980s
61 births
- 1990s
1990s
149 births
- 2000s
2000s
170 births
- 2010s
2010s
130 births
- 2020s
2020s
70 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 170 births (29% of all-time use).
How Kelechi 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 Kelechi's total volume
Kelechi vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Kelechi by state
Where Kelechi concentrates geographically, total births since 1979
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 24 | 4.1% |
| #2 | New York | | 13 | 2.2% |
| #3 | California | | 5 | 0.9% |
| #4 | Georgia | | 5 | 0.9% |
Texas share of Kelechi's total US births 4.1%
Even split
24 of 586 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 4 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Kelechi? ▼
586 babies have been named Kelechi since 1979. It currently ranks #6597 among boys. The peak year was 2002 with 24 births.
When was Kelechi most popular? ▼
Kelechi was most popular in the 2000s decade with 170 total births. The single peak year was 2002.
Where is Kelechi most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Kelechi are Texas (24 births), New York (13 births), California (5 births).
Is Kelechi a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Kelechi is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 586 births, and as a girl's name it has 261 births.
How long has the name Kelechi been used? ▼
Kelechi has been recorded in Social Security data since 1979, spanning 47 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Kelechi? ▼
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 Kelechi's data
- Kelechi's usage has stayed within range of its 2000s decade-level peak (170 total births) through the 2020s (70) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Texas records the most Kelechis (24 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 Kelechi
Nearby Names Like Kelechi
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Kelechi
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 Kelechi side by side: Kelechi vs Kelly Kelechi vs Kelvin Kelechi vs Kellen
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Kelechi
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, 1979–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Kelechi: #6597 Unisex Name - 586 Births, Peak 2002." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/kelechi. 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 Kelechi 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.