Fun Facts About the Name Kellin
- More than 1 thousand babies named Kellin: U.S. records list 1,279 babies given the name Kellin from 1880 through 2025. Even 94 girls received the name Kellin - about 1 girl for every 13 boys.
What Does the Name Kellin Mean?
Kellin has no separate, well-documented etymology of its own; it is best understood as a spelling variant of Kellan or Kellen. Those names are most often explained as anglicized forms of the Irish name Cillian, also spelled Killian and pronounced KILL-ee-an. The meaning of Cillian is disputed. One explanation derives it from Old Irish ceallach, meaning "strife" or "contention." Another connects it to Old Irish ceall, "church" or "monastic cell" (from Latin cella), with a diminutive ending, which would give a sense such as "little church." Because these two explanations remain competing and neither is settled, the meaning of Kellin is best given as uncertain. Kellan and Kellen are also found as English surnames, and some uses of the given name may come from that surname rather than from the Irish name.
Kellin Name History & Origins
The Irish names Cillian and Killian are recorded from the medieval period and were carried by early church figures. St. Cillian, an Irish missionary, was martyred at Würzburg around 689, and the German form of his name, Kilian, is still used in his honor. Irish use of the name continued, and over time its vowel and spelling were anglicized in different ways, producing both Kill- and Kell- forms such as Kilian, Killian, Kellan, and Kellen.
Kellin spells the same sound with a final -in. It belongs to a pattern of English spellings that vary the unstressed final vowel (-an, -en, -in) without changing the pronunciation, as with Kellan and Kellen. The name is used in English-speaking countries, and its development is tied to that of the names above rather than to a separate origin.
How Popular is the Name Kellin?
Kellin has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2014. Its best rank was #1,479 in 2014.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | #16,480 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #15,293 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #17,952 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #18,213 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #19,037 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #14,705 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #13,749 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #13,474 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2003 | #14,808 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #12,633 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1995 | #10,037 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1994 | #12,579 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #14,226 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #11,535 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #11,498 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #11,220 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,861 | 44 | 0.0026% |
| 2024 | #2,969 | 42 | 0.0024% |
| 2023 | #2,561 | 52 | 0.0030% |
| 2022 | #2,635 | 51 | 0.0029% |
| 2021 | #2,183 | 65 | 0.0037% |
| 2020 | #2,487 | 52 | 0.0030% |
| 2019 | #2,567 | 51 | 0.0028% |
| 2018 | #2,156 | 65 | 0.0036% |
| 2017 | #2,078 | 67 | 0.0036% |
| 2016 | #1,712 | 91 | 0.0048% |
| 2015 | #1,924 | 76 | 0.0040% |
| 2014 | #1,479 | 110 | 0.0057% |
| 2013 | #1,908 | 74 | 0.0039% |
| 2012 | #3,143 | 36 | 0.0019% |
| 2011 | #5,829 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2010 | #4,941 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2009 | #6,285 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2008 | #5,933 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 2007 | #6,877 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2005 | #6,889 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2004 | #7,289 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #8,253 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2002 | #8,951 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2001 | #6,721 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2000 | #6,593 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1999 | #10,814 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #5,884 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1996 | #5,365 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1995 | #6,702 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1994 | #5,686 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1993 | #5,585 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1992 | #6,413 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #6,242 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #4,850 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1989 | #5,395 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #5,014 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1987 | #3,435 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1986 | #2,133 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1985 | #3,701 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1984 | #4,076 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1983 | #4,324 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1982 | #5,326 | 7 | 0.0004% |
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.
Explore More Lists with Name Kellin
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with K
How the Name Kellin 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 have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Kellin's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Kellin's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.