NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Kelston

An English masculine name derived from an Old English place name.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2008. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Kelston is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kelston popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2008 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4432, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 3 births.

This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2004 to 2008. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Kelston. 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 2009 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Kelston ranked #4432 for boys in England and Wales in 2008, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2004, when 3 boys were registered as Kelston.
  • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kelston as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4432

2008

Births in 2008

3

Latest year

Peak year

2004

3 births

Estimated living

6

2026

Meaning

What does Kelston mean?

The name Kelston is an English name with origins dating back to the 12th century. It is a locational name, derived from the village of Kelston in Somerset, England. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "ceol" meaning "ship" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "settlement," suggesting a settlement or enclosure where ships were built or docked.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Kelston was Sir William de Kelston, a Norman knight who lived in the late 12th century. He was a prominent figure in Somerset and held lands in the village of Kelston.

In the 14th century, the name Kelston appeared in the Domesday Book, a manuscript record of landholders in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that the name was well-established in the region by that time.

A notable figure in history with the name Kelston was John Kelston, an English clergyman who lived in the 15th century. He served as the Bishop of Bath and Wells from 1425 to 1440 and played a significant role in the religious affairs of the region.

During the 16th century, the name Kelston gained some prominence with the birth of Thomas Kelston (1545-1628), an English composer and organist. He is known for his contributions to the development of English church music during the Renaissance period.

Another noteworthy individual with the name Kelston was Sir Edward Kelston (1590-1668), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset during the reign of King Charles I. He was a staunch Royalist during the English Civil War and fought for the King's cause.

While the name Kelston has its roots in England, it has been adopted and used in other parts of the world, particularly in countries with strong historical ties to Britain, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. However, it remains a relatively uncommon name globally.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Kelston over time

The chart below shows babies named Kelston registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2008. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Kelston, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2008, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Kelston
01223200420062008

Decades

Kelston by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kelston 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
2000s #4042 6 2

Related

Names similar to Kelston

FAQ

Kelston: questions and answers

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

In 2008, Kelston was ranked #4432 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Kelston most popular?

The peak year on record was 2004, with 3 babies registered as Kelston in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Kelston?

An English masculine name derived from an Old English place name.

How many people are called Kelston in the UK?

A total of 6 babies have been registered as Kelston across the 2 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.