Fun Facts About the Name Kale
- More than 7 thousand babies named Kale: U.S. records list 7,605 babies given the name Kale from 1880 through 2025. Even 226 girls received the name Kale - about 1 girl for every 33 boys.
What Does the Name Kale Mean?
Kale is a masculine given name of Hawaiian origin, meaning "free man." It is the Hawaiian form of Charles, a name derived from the Germanic karl, meaning "man" or "free man." Hawaiian traditionally lacks the sounds /r/ and /s/, so Charles was adapted as Kale. The meaning comes from the parent name; Kale is not a separate Hawaiian word with an unrelated meaning.
The English word kale, for the leafy cabbage, is unrelated. It comes from Old English cāl, from Latin caulis. The English surname Kale derives from that word, not from the Hawaiian name. A modern English given name Kale may be an adoption of the Hawaiian name or a transferred surname, but the Hawaiian derivation is the one with a clear, established meaning.
Kale Name History & Origins
The Hawaiian name Kale developed after American missionaries introduced a written Hawaiian alphabet in the early 19th century. They transliterated biblical and Western names into Hawaiian, and Charles became Kale because Hawaiian lacked /r/ and /s/. Hawaiian names of this type were used alongside older Hawaiian names, and Kale has remained in use in Hawaii as a personal name.
In English-speaking countries, Kale is also used as a given name, usually pronounced KAYL. The English surname Kale, from the vegetable word, is a separate development found in England and Scotland, where kale was a common crop. That surname is sometimes suggested as a source for the English given name, but the Hawaiian derivation is the one with a clear etymology. The two histories should not be merged: the Hawaiian name comes from Charles, while the English word and surname come from the plant name.
How Popular is the Name Kale?
Kale recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2008. Its best rank was #504 in 2008.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | #17,885 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #10,054 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2011 | #18,128 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #8,958 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2009 | #8,241 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2008 | #6,029 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2007 | #7,238 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2006 | #5,812 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2005 | #10,503 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #16,988 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #14,380 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #13,996 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1999 | #13,461 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #15,260 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #11,399 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1993 | #10,013 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #12,461 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #9,662 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1989 | #11,476 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1988 | #10,986 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1987 | #10,451 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #7,894 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #9,656 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1983 | #6,970 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1979 | #10,905 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #7,419 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2024 | #5,317 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2023 | #6,702 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2022 | #4,501 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2021 | #3,868 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 2020 | #4,081 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2019 | #4,055 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2018 | #2,686 | 46 | 0.0025% |
| 2017 | #2,177 | 62 | 0.0034% |
| 2016 | #1,607 | 101 | 0.0053% |
| 2015 | #1,097 | 177 | 0.0092% |
| 2014 | #971 | 216 | 0.0112% |
| 2013 | #830 | 259 | 0.0137% |
| 2012 | #722 | 325 | 0.0171% |
| 2011 | #590 | 424 | 0.0223% |
| 2010 | #591 | 423 | 0.0220% |
| 2009 | #518 | 521 | 0.0263% |
| 2008 | #504 | 544 | 0.0267% |
| 2007 | #635 | 382 | 0.0184% |
| 2006 | #767 | 272 | 0.0132% |
| 2005 | #754 | 264 | 0.0132% |
| 2004 | #802 | 225 | 0.0113% |
| 2003 | #907 | 184 | 0.0093% |
| 2002 | #904 | 179 | 0.0092% |
| 2001 | #975 | 158 | 0.0081% |
| 2000 | #990 | 150 | 0.0076% |
| 1999 | #1,065 | 128 | 0.0067% |
| 1998 | #999 | 137 | 0.0072% |
| 1997 | #1,173 | 103 | 0.0055% |
| 1996 | #1,210 | 93 | 0.0049% |
| 1995 | #1,196 | 94 | 0.0049% |
| 1994 | #1,082 | 107 | 0.0055% |
| 1993 | #1,067 | 109 | 0.0056% |
| 1992 | #1,103 | 100 | 0.0050% |
| 1991 | #1,159 | 91 | 0.0045% |
| 1990 | #1,021 | 108 | 0.0053% |
| 1989 | #1,098 | 93 | 0.0046% |
| 1988 | #920 | 108 | 0.0056% |
| 1987 | #859 | 119 | 0.0064% |
| 1986 | #1,016 | 83 | 0.0045% |
| 1985 | #955 | 92 | 0.0050% |
| 1984 | #1,126 | 65 | 0.0036% |
| 1983 | #1,340 | 49 | 0.0027% |
| 1982 | #1,502 | 42 | 0.0023% |
| 1981 | #1,300 | 51 | 0.0028% |
| 1980 | #1,455 | 43 | 0.0024% |
| 1979 | #1,585 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 1978 | #1,402 | 44 | 0.0027% |
| 1977 | #1,559 | 36 | 0.0022% |
| 1976 | #1,660 | 32 | 0.0020% |
| 1975 | #1,490 | 36 | 0.0023% |
| 1974 | #1,635 | 30 | 0.0019% |
| 1973 | #1,528 | 32 | 0.0021% |
| 1972 | #2,048 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1971 | #1,727 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1970 | #1,640 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1969 | #2,182 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1968 | #2,069 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1967 | #2,295 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1966 | #2,880 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1965 | #3,404 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1964 | #2,962 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1963 | #2,258 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1962 | #2,081 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1961 | #3,227 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1960 | #2,971 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1959 | #4,284 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1958 | #3,418 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #3,407 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1956 | #2,437 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1953 | #4,088 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1952 | #4,003 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1945 | #3,163 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1937 | #3,796 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1925 | #2,674 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1917 | #3,761 | 6 | 0.0006% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Kale Shapes Your Personality and Life?
EXTREMES in fortune, health and spirituality. You are very versatile, idealistic and intuitive. You either enjoy great success or suffer abject misery. The solution is service to others. Use your leadership abilities for humanity and not for self-glorification. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Kale's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Kale's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.