Total births
530
Boys' name · since 1982
Kien
Since 1982, U.S. Social Security records show 530 babies named Kien, peaking in 2024. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #4139
- among boys today
- 530
- born since 1982
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 71%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Kien is the #4139 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 530 recorded since 1982.
Social Security Administration records show Kien recorded 530 times among boys since 1982, holding rank #4139 nationally today, ahead of 71% of boys, 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 1982 to 2025.
- #4139 among boys today
- 530 born since 1982
- 2010s peak decade
- 71% more common than other boys
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Kien is currently the #4139 boys' name in America, more common than 71% of boys - 530 born since 1982, peaking in the 2010s.
- #4139
- among boys today
- 530
- born since 1982
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 71%
- more common than other boys
Kien vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#4139
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 71% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
34% of everyone ever named Kien was born in this single decade.
2024
Single peak year
26 babies were named Kien in 2024 - its busiest year on record.
How Kien compares
530 Top 42% higher than 58% 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
Kien's all-time total is 44% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Kien | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 530 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 26 | 23 | 22,252 |
Kien's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Kien splits its recorded history at 2006: 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 1982 (6 births) -- compare that against the 2024 peak of 26 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Kien at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2024
Current rank
#4,139
Active since
1982
Kien popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1982–2025
- Peak year (2024)
- 26
- Annual births at peak, across 44 years of records
Kien by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Kien's strongest decade.
179 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 34% of all-time use.
Kien births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1980s 31
1980s
31 births
- 1990s 63
1990s
63 births
- 2000s
2000s
154 births
- 2010s
2010s
179 births
- 2020s
2020s
103 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 179 births (34% of all-time use).
How Kien 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 Kien's total volume
Kien vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Kien by state
Where Kien concentrates geographically, total births since 1982
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 37 | 7.0% |
| #2 | Texas | | 5 | 0.9% |
California share of Kien's total US births 7.0%
Even split
37 of 530 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Kien? ▼
Kien has been given to 530 babies in the U.S. since 1982, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #4139 as of the latest data. 26 babies were born in 2024, its single highest year.
When was Kien most popular? ▼
Kien was most popular in the 2010s decade with 179 total births. The single peak year was 2024.
Where is Kien most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Kien are California (37 births), Texas (5 births).
How long has the name Kien been used? ▼
Kien has been recorded in Social Security data since 1982, spanning 44 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Kien? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Kieran, Kieth, Kiel, Kiefer, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Kien's data
- Kien's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (179 total births) through the 2020s (103) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Kiens (37 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 Kien
Nearby Names Like Kien
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Kien
Kieran Boy
#440 17,613 births
Kieth Boy
2,837 births
Kiel Boy
#11140 2,505 births
Kiefer Boy
#12851 1,950 births
Kiernan Boy
#3115 1,761 births
Compare Kien side by side: Kien vs Kieran Kien vs Kieth Kien vs Kiel
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Kien
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, 1982–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Kien: #4139 Boys' Name - 530 Births, Peak 2024." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/kien. 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 Kien 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.