Total births
312
Unisex name · since 1985
Kestrel
Kestrel has 312 recorded births since 1985 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 2019 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #11416
- among girls today
- 312
- born since 1985
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 36%
- more common than other girls
Yes -- Kestrel is the #11416 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 312 recorded since 1985.
Social Security Administration records show Kestrel recorded 312 times among girls since 1985, holding rank #11416 nationally today, ahead of 36% of girls, peaking in the 2010s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1985 to 2025.
- #11416 among girls today
- 312 born since 1985
- 2010s peak decade
- 36% more common than other girls
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Kestrel is currently the #11416 unisex name in America, more common than 36% of girls - 312 born since 1985, peaking in the 2010s.
- #11416
- among girls today
- 312
- born since 1985
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 36%
- more common than other girls
Kestrel vs. every other girls name in current SSA rankings
#11416
of 17,726 girls in use
More common than 36% of names given to girls today.
2010s
Peak decade
37% of everyone ever named Kestrel was born in this single decade.
2019
Single peak year
19 babies were named Kestrel in 2019 - its busiest year on record.
How Kestrel compares
312 46th percentile among 17,726 names currently given to girls
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked girls 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
Kestrel's all-time total is 18% below the median girls name, and Olivia still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Kestrel | Median girls name (Emerly) | #1 girls name (Olivia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 312 | 382 | 567,345 |
| Peak-year births | 19 | 48 | 19,840 |
Kestrel's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Kestrel splits its recorded history at 2009: 65% of all births land in the more recent half, 35% in the earlier half, a lean toward present-day use rather than a passing spike. The single quietest year was 1986 (5 births) -- compare that against the 2019 peak of 19 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Kestrel at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2019
Current rank
#11,416
Active since
1985
Kestrel popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1985–2025
- Peak year (2019)
- 19
- Annual births at peak, across 41 years of records
Kestrel popularity over time - boys
27 total births recorded since 2012 (Kestrel as boys' name)
Kestrel by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Kestrel's strongest decade.
115 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 37% of all-time use.
Kestrel births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1980s 11
1980s
11 births
- 1990s 43
1990s
43 births
- 2000s
2000s
63 births
- 2010s
2010s
115 births
- 2020s
2020s
80 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 115 births (37% of all-time use).
Kestrel by state
Where Kestrel concentrates geographically, total births since 1985
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 5 | 1.6% |
California share of Kestrel's total US births 1.6%
5 of 312 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Kestrel? ▼
312 babies have been named Kestrel since 1985. It currently ranks #11416 among girls. The peak year was 2019 with 19 births.
When was Kestrel most popular? ▼
Kestrel was most popular in the 2010s decade with 115 total births. The single peak year was 2019.
Where is Kestrel most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Kestrel are California (5 births).
Is Kestrel a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Kestrel is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 312 births, and as a boy's name it has 27 births.
How long has the name Kestrel been used? ▼
Kestrel has been recorded in Social Security data since 1985, spanning 41 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Kestrel? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Keshia, Kesha, Kesia, Kesley, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Kestrel's data
- Kestrel's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (115 total births) through the 2020s (80) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Kestrels (5 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 Kestrel
Nearby Names Like Kestrel
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Kestrel
Keshia Girl
5,380 births
Kesha Girl
#13760 5,248 births
Kesia Girl
692 births
Kesley Girl
#8133 674 births
Keshawna Girl
460 births
Compare Kestrel side by side: Kestrel vs Keshia Kestrel vs Kesha Kestrel vs Kesia
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Kestrel
Brooklin #11415
2,037 births · Peak 2007
Noga #11417
252 births · Peak 2025
Yazmyn #11414
286 births · Peak 2006
Folasade #11418
426 births · Peak 1996
Mikhaila #11413
522 births · Peak 1996
Ineisha #11419
40 births · Peak 2023
Lizmarie #11412
518 births · Peak 2007
Kaeleigh #11420
1,426 births · Peak 2008
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, 1985–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Kestrel: #11416 Unisex Name - 312 Births, Peak 2019." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/kestrel. 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 Kestrel 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.