NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Kellin

A Scottish variant spelling of the name Cailean, itself a Gaelic equivalent of Colin.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Kellin is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kellin popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 7 births.

This profile covers 16 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2014 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 57% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 16 living people in the UK are called Kellin. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Kellin ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2014, when 7 boys were registered as Kellin.
  • About 16 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kellin as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4270

2024

Births in 2024

4

Latest year

Peak year

2014

7 births

Estimated living

16

2026

Meaning

What does Kellin mean?

The name Kellin is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "cyll," meaning a stream or brook. It is believed to have emerged as a surname in the 12th century, referring to someone who lived near a small body of water.

Over time, the name evolved and was adopted as a given name, particularly in the British Isles. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kellin can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. Here, the name appears as "Kelin."

In the Middle Ages, the name Kellin was relatively uncommon but not unheard of. It is recorded in several parish records and tax rolls from the 13th to 15th centuries, primarily in the counties of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.

One notable bearer of the name Kellin was Kellin de Courtenay, a French nobleman who lived in the 13th century. He was a member of the prestigious House of Courtenay and served as a knight in the service of King Louis IX during the Seventh Crusade.

Another historical figure with the name Kellin was Kellin Burges, a merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, England, in the 15th century. He was a prominent member of the local community and played a role in the city's governance.

In the 16th century, the name Kellin gained some popularity among Puritan families in England, who were drawn to its simple, biblical-sounding quality. One example from this period is Kellin Woodstock, a Puritan minister who served in the town of Ipswich, Massachusetts, in the early years of the American colonies.

Kellin Gibbons, a British soldier and explorer, was born in 1720 and is known for his travels and writings about the American West in the late 18th century. His journals provide valuable insights into the indigenous cultures and landscapes of the region.

Additionally, Kellin Wilcox, an American abolitionist and social reformer, was born in 1824. He was actively involved in the anti-slavery movement and worked tirelessly to promote the rights and welfare of African Americans.

While the name Kellin has never been among the most common given names, it has maintained a modest presence throughout history, particularly in English-speaking regions. Its association with nature and its simple, understated quality have likely contributed to its enduring appeal.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Kellin over time

The chart below shows babies named Kellin registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2014 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Kellin, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Kellin
02457201420192024

Decades

Kellin by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kellin 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 #4270 4 1
2010s #3070 12 2

Related

Names similar to Kellin

FAQ

Kellin: questions and answers

How popular is the name Kellin in the UK right now?

In 2024, Kellin was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Kellin most popular?

The peak year on record was 2014, with 7 babies registered as Kellin in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Kellin?

A Scottish variant spelling of the name Cailean, itself a Gaelic equivalent of Colin.

How many people are called Kellin in the UK?

A total of 16 babies have been registered as Kellin across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

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.