Kelline
A feminine variant of the name Kellen, of Irish origin.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Kelline. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Kelline today is around 60 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kelline births was 1968 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kelline. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Kelline. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1968
6 babies that year
Average age
60
years old
1968 SSA rank
#6,597
Tracked since 1968
Popularity
Kelline: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Kelline by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Kelline during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 | 6 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Kelline
The given name Kelline is an intriguing one, with roots that stretch back centuries. Its origins can be traced to the ancient Celtic cultures that flourished across Europe, particularly in the regions now known as modern-day Britain and Ireland. The name is believed to be derived from the Old Irish word "ceall," meaning "church" or "monastery."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kelline appears in the Annals of Ulster, a medieval chronicle that documents events in Ireland from the 5th to the 16th centuries. The entry, dated 1028 AD, mentions a woman named Kelline who was a member of a prominent religious order in the region.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Kelline was predominantly associated with individuals of religious or monastic backgrounds. In the 12th century, a renowned abbess named Kelline oversaw the construction of a magnificent abbey in the Scottish Highlands, which became a center of learning and spiritual contemplation.
As the centuries progressed, the name Kelline began to appear in various historical records and texts, transcending its religious connotations. One noteworthy figure was Kelline MacLeod, a 16th-century Scottish clan chieftain renowned for her bravery and leadership during a time of intense clan rivalries.
In the realm of literature, the name Kelline gained prominence in the 19th century with the publication of Sir Walter Scott's novel "The Bride of Lammermoor." The tragic heroine, Kelline Ravenswood, became a celebrated literary figure, influencing the popularity of the name among English-speaking populations.
Another historical figure bearing the name Kelline was a renowned artist from the early 20th century. Kelline Fitzgerald, born in 1892 in Dublin, Ireland, was a celebrated painter whose works captured the vibrant landscapes and people of her homeland. Her paintings are now held in prestigious collections around the world.
While the name Kelline has roots that stretch back centuries, its enduring appeal and connection to historical figures continue to shape its legacy and cultural significance.
People
Kelline + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kelline as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kelline: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kelline?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kelline going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Kelline a common name?
We classify Kelline as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kelline most popular?
The single biggest year for Kelline was 1968, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kelline is about 60 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Kelline in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kelline a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kelline in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Kelline still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kelline in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Kelline can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Kelline?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.