UK boy's name
Kemal
A masculine Turkish name derived from Arabic meaning "perfection".
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.
Kemal is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kemal popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3254, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 17 births.
This profile covers 236 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 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 35% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 234 living people in the UK are called Kemal. 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
- • Kemal ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 17 boys were registered as Kemal.
- • About 234 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kemal as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3254
2024
Births in 2024
6
Latest year
Peak year
2017
17 births
Estimated living
234
2026
Meaning
What does Kemal mean?
The given name Kemal has its roots in the Turkish language. It is derived from the Arabic word 'kamal', which means perfection or completeness. The name is believed to have originated during the early days of Islam, around the 7th century CE, when Arabic influence spread across the Middle East and parts of Asia.
The earliest recorded use of the name Kemal can be traced back to the Ottoman Empire, where it was commonly used among the Turkish population. One of the most notable historical figures bearing this name was Kemal Ataturk (1881-1938), the founder of modern Turkey. He played a pivotal role in the Turkish War of Independence and was instrumental in establishing the secular Republic of Turkey.
Another prominent figure in history with the name Kemal was Kemal Ismail (1844-1919), a Turkish statesman and writer who served as the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire during the late 19th century. He was known for his efforts to modernize the Ottoman government and introduce reforms.
In the realm of literature, Kemal Tahir (1910-1973) was a renowned Turkish novelist and short story writer. His works often explored themes of social injustice and the struggles of the working class in Turkey. Some of his famous novels include "Devlet Ana" and "Yorgun Savaşçı".
In the field of science, Kemal Güruz (1949-2021) was a prominent Turkish mathematician and academic. He made significant contributions to the study of functional analysis and operator theory, and served as the president of the Turkish Mathematical Society.
Kemal Derviş (born 1949) is a Turkish economist and former administrator for the United Nations Development Programme. He has held various high-level positions in international organizations and has been involved in economic policymaking and development initiatives around the world.
While the name Kemal has its origins in the Arabic and Turkish cultures, it has also been adopted and used in other regions, particularly among Muslim communities. However, its historical significance and strong association with Turkish identity remain prominent.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kemal over time
The chart below shows babies named Kemal registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Kemal, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 17 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kemal by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kemal 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 | #2537 | 41 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2667 | 83 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2134 | 78 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1505 | 34 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Kemal
- 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
Kemal: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kemal in the UK right now?
In 2024, Kemal was ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Kemal most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 17 babies registered as Kemal in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kemal?
A masculine Turkish name derived from Arabic meaning "perfection".
How many people are called Kemal in the UK?
A total of 236 babies have been registered as Kemal across the 29 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.