Total births
1,404
Boys' name · since 1962
Kelson
Kelson has 1,404 recorded births since 1962 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 2009 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #4613
- among boys today
- 1,404
- born since 1962
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 68%
- more common than other boys
Kelson currently ranks #4613 among boys' names in America, with 1,404 babies recorded since 1962.
Social Security Administration records show Kelson recorded 1,404 times among boys since 1962, holding rank #4613 nationally today, ahead of 68% of boys, peaking in the 2000s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1962 to 2025.
- #4613 among boys today
- 1,404 born since 1962
- 2000s peak decade
- 68% more common than other boys
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Kelson is currently the #4613 boys' name in America, more common than 68% of boys - 1,404 born since 1962, peaking in the 2000s.
- #4613
- among boys today
- 1,404
- born since 1962
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 68%
- more common than other boys
Kelson vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#4613
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 68% of names given to boys today.
2000s
Peak decade
27% of everyone ever named Kelson was born in this single decade.
2009
Single peak year
49 babies were named Kelson in 2009 - its busiest year on record.
How Kelson compares
1,404 Top 26% higher than 74% 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
Kelson's all-time total is 4x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Kelson | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,404 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 49 | 23 | 22,252 |
Kelson's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Kelson splits its recorded history at 2003: 60% of all births land in the more recent half, 40% in the earlier half, a lean toward present-day use rather than a passing spike. The single quietest year was 1962 (5 births) -- compare that against the 2009 peak of 49 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Kelson at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2009
Current rank
#4,613
Active since
1962
Kelson popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1962–2025
- Peak year (2009)
- 49
- Annual births at peak, across 64 years of records
Kelson by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Kelson's strongest decade.
386 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 27% of all-time use.
Kelson births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1960s 5
1960s
5 births
- 1970s 6
1970s
6 births
- 1980s 148
1980s
148 births
- 1990s
1990s
310 births
- 2000s
2000s
386 births
- 2010s
2010s
385 births
- 2020s
2020s
164 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 386 births (27% of all-time use).
How Kelson 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 Kelson's total volume
Kelson vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Kelson by state
Where Kelson concentrates geographically, total births since 1962
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 28 | 2.0% |
| #2 | Hawaii | | 20 | 1.4% |
| #3 | Texas | | 19 | 1.4% |
| #4 | Utah | | 18 | 1.3% |
| #5 | Georgia | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #6 | Washington | | 5 | 0.4% |
California share of Kelson's total US births 2.0%
Even split
28 of 1,404 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 6 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Kelson? ▼
1,404 babies have been named Kelson since 1962. It currently ranks #4613 among boys. The peak year was 2009 with 49 births.
When was Kelson most popular? ▼
Kelson was most popular in the 2000s decade with 386 total births. The single peak year was 2009.
Where is Kelson most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Kelson are California (28 births), Hawaii (20 births), Texas (19 births).
How long has the name Kelson been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Kelson since 1962 -- 64 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Kelson? ▼
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 Kelson's data
- Kelson's usage has stayed within range of its 2000s decade-level peak (386 total births) through the 2020s (164) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Kelsons (28 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California 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 Kelson
Nearby Names Like Kelson
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Kelson
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 Kelson side by side: Kelson vs Kelly Kelson vs Kelvin Kelson vs Kellen
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Kelson
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1962–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Kelson: #4613 Boys' Name - 1,404 Births, Peak 2009." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/kelson. 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 Kelson 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 July 2026.