Boys' name · since 1958
Kjell
Since 1958, U.S. Social Security records show 360 babies named Kjell, peaking in 1968. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #9,599 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 360
- born since 1958
- 1970s
- peak decade
Kjell sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 360 recorded since 1958.
Social Security Administration records show Kjell recorded 360 times among boys since 1958, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1970s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1958 to 2014.
- #9,599 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 360 born since 1958
- 1970s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Kjell ranks #9,599 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 360 born since 1958, peaking in the 1970s.
- #9,599 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 360
- born since 1958
- 1970s
- peak decade
Kjell's 360 recorded births place it above 78.87% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 2 jurisdictions, led by California.
Kjell's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Kjell's SSA record in two at 1983 and the more recent half accounts for 45% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 55%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1958, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1968 peak of 15, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Kjell popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1958–2014
- Peak year (1968)
- 15
- Annual births at peak, across 57 years of records
Kjell by decade
1970s is the heaviest window (107 births, 30% of the file).
1970s was Kjell's strongest decade.
107 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 30% of all-time use.
Kjell births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1950s 5
1950s
5 births
- 1960s
1960s
57 births
- 1970s
1970s
107 births
- 1980s
1980s
79 births
- 1990s
1990s
63 births
- 2000s 37
2000s
37 births
- 2010s 12
2010s
12 births
What this shows Peak: 1970s at 107 births (30% of all-time use).
Kjell by state
Where Kjell concentrates geographically, total births since 1958
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 5 | 1.4% |
| #2 | Washington | | 5 | 1.4% |
5 of 360 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Kjell? ▼
Where does Kjell sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Kjell most popular? ▼
Where is Kjell most popular? ▼
How long has the name Kjell been used? ▼
What to do with Kjell's data
- Kjell's decade-level peak was the 1970s (107 total births); usage has since declined to 12 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Kjells (5 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Kjell
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Kjell: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1968)
Similar record span (~56 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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, 1958–2014 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
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 Kjell 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 August 2026.