Total births
680
Unisex name · since 1942
Kem
Since 1942, U.S. Social Security records show 680 babies named Kem, peaking in 1956. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 680
- total births
- 1942–2005
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 45%
- born in that decade
Kem sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 680 recorded since 1942.
Kem has 680 recorded births among boys since 1942, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, though it falls outside today's most-used boys names, busiest in the 1950s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1942 to 2005.
- 680 total births
- 1942–2005 years on record
- 1950s peak decade
- 45% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
680 boys have been named Kem since 1942, peaking in the 1950s, last recorded in 2005.
- 680
- total births
- 1942–2005
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 45%
- born in that decade
1950s
Peak decade
45% of everyone ever named Kem was born in this single decade.
1956
Single peak year
65 babies were named Kem in 1956 - its busiest year on record.
Kem's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Kem splits its recorded history at 1965: 27% of all births land in the more recent half, 73% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1976 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1956 peak of 65 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Kem at a glance
Last recorded 2005Peak year
1956
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1942
Kem popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1942–2005
- Peak year (1956)
- 65
- Annual births at peak, across 64 years of records
Kem popularity over time - girls
353 total births recorded since 1952 (Kem as girls' name)
Kem by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1950s was Kem's strongest decade.
309 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 45% of all-time use.
Kem births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1940s 45
1940s
45 births
- 1950s
1950s
309 births
- 1960s
1960s
227 births
- 1970s 55
1970s
55 births
- 1980s 28
1980s
28 births
- 1990s 10
1990s
10 births
- 2000s 6
2000s
6 births
What this shows Peak: 1950s at 309 births (45% of all-time use).
How Kem 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 Kem's total volume
Kem vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Kem by state
Where Kem concentrates geographically, total births since 1942
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Indiana | | 12 | 1.8% |
| #2 | Missouri | | 6 | 0.9% |
| #3 | Alabama | | 5 | 0.7% |
| #4 | California | | 5 | 0.7% |
| #5 | Texas | | 5 | 0.7% |
Indiana share of Kem's total US births 1.8%
Even split
12 of 680 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 5 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Kem? ▼
Kem has been given to 680 babies in the U.S. since 1942, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 2005. 65 babies were born in 1956, its single highest year.
When was Kem most popular? ▼
Kem was most popular in the 1950s decade with 309 total births. The single peak year was 1956.
Where is Kem most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Kem are Indiana (12 births), Missouri (6 births), Alabama (5 births).
Is Kem a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Kem is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 680 births, and as a girl's name it has 353 births.
How long has the name Kem been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Kem since 1942 -- 64 years through the most recent 2005 data.
What names are similar to Kem? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Kemper, Kemari, Kemp, Kemarion, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Kem's data
- Kem's decade-level peak was the 1950s (309 total births); usage has since declined to 6 in the 2000s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Indiana records the most Kems (12 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Indiana 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 Kem
Nearby Names Like Kem
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Kem
Kemper Boy
#4211 1,598 births
Kemari Boy
#1994 1,585 births
Kemp Boy
#5919 1,306 births
Kemarion Boy
#4530 936 births
Kemuel Boy
#4354 612 births
Compare Kem side by side: Kem vs Kemper Kem vs Kemari Kem vs Kemp
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
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, 1942–2005 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Kem: Baby Name Since 1942 - 680 Births, Peak 1956." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/kem. 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 Kem 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.