UK name, mostly boys
Kellen
A masculine given name of Irish origin meaning "slender" or "small".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kellen is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Kellen popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2755, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 12 births.
This profile covers 161 England and Wales registrations across 24 recorded years from 1996 to 2022. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 58% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 163 living people in the UK are called Kellen. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kellen ranked #2755 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 7 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 12 boys were registered as Kellen.
- • Kellen ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #638 in 2010.
- • About 163 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kellen as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 96.4% of Kellen registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2755
2022
Births in 2022
7
Latest year
Peak year
2007
12 births
Estimated living
163
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Kellen
In England and Wales birth records, Kellen has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 96.4% of registrations are for boys and 3.6% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Kellen registered for boys
- Ranked #2,755 in 2022
- 7 boys registered in 2022
- Peak: 2007 (12 births)
Kellen registered for girls
- Ranked #2,416 in 2000
- 6 girls registered in 2000
- Peak: 2000 (6 births)
Meaning
What does Kellen mean?
The given name Kellen is thought to have originated from the Gaelic language, specifically from the Irish word "cailín" which means "young girl" or "maiden." This name gained popularity during the medieval period in Ireland and Scotland.
In its earliest forms, the name was spelled as "Caillen" or "Callen," and it was often used as a diminutive form of the name Caitlín (Cathleen or Kathleen). The name eventually evolved into the modern spelling of "Kellen."
While there are no known historical references to the name Kellen in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it was likely used as a common given name among the Celtic populations of Ireland and Scotland during the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Kellen can be found in the Irish Annals, which mention a "Callen Ó Ruairc" in the 13th century. Ó Ruairc was a prominent Irish surname at the time.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Kellen:
1. Kellen Winslow Sr. (born 1957), an American former professional football player who played in the National Football League (NFL) as a tight end for the San Diego Chargers.
2. Kellen Winslow Jr. (born 1983), an American former professional football player who played in the NFL as a tight end, following in his father's footsteps.
3. Kellen Moore (born 1989), an American football coach and former professional quarterback who currently serves as the head coach of the Chargers.
4. Kellen Clemens (born 1983), an American former professional football player who played in the NFL as a quarterback.
5. Kellen Wilson (born 1996), an American singer-songwriter and musician known for her work in the country music genre.
These examples showcase the diverse backgrounds and professions of individuals who have carried the name Kellen throughout history, from athletes and coaches to musicians and entertainers.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kellen over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Kellen in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kellen, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2022, compared with 12 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kellen by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kellen was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #2755 | 7 | 1 |
| 2010s | #3157 | 65 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2456 | 71 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1812 | 18 | 3 |
Geography
Where Kellen is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Kellen. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Kellen ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #638 in 2010.
Across the UK
Kellen in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#638 in 2010
1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Kellen
-
Kellen Fisher
association football player
English footballer
2004-
Related
Names similar to Kellen
- Kieran 30,429
- Kyle 28,463
- Kai 24,432
- Kian 17,666
- Kayden 8,305
- Kevin 7,927
- Kane 7,149
- Kaiden 5,762
- Kieron 4,547
- Kacper 4,366
- Kye 4,012
- Kit 3,529
FAQ
Kellen: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kellen in the UK right now?
In 2022, Kellen was ranked #2755 for boys in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.
When was Kellen most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 12 babies registered as Kellen in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kellen?
A masculine given name of Irish origin meaning "slender" or "small".
How many people are called Kellen in the UK?
A total of 161 babies have been registered as Kellen across the 24 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.
Where is Kellen most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Kellen ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #638 in 2010. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.