Fun Facts About the Name Kemper
- More than 1 thousand babies named Kemper: U.S. records list 1,899 babies given the name Kemper from 1880 through 2025. Even 301 girls received the name Kemper - about 1 girl for every 5 boys.
What Does the Name Kemper Mean?
Kemper is a given name taken from the German and Dutch surname of the same spelling. The surname has two main established explanations. In German, it can come from Middle Low German kemper, meaning "champion" or "fighter," a word connected with Latin campio; in that use it was a nickname for a warrior or a tournament fighter. It can also be an occupational name for a wool comber, from Middle Low German kempen, "to comb." The Dutch surname Kemper is likewise explained as a wool comber's name, from Middle Dutch. A habitational origin from places called Kempen has also been suggested, though it is less secure than the nickname and occupational explanations.
Kemper Name History & Origins
The surname Kemper belongs to the German- and Dutch-speaking parts of northwestern Europe; its Middle Low German and Middle Dutch forms are agent nouns ending in -er. It was an inherited family name of the type formed from nicknames and occupations, not a traditional given name in those regions. German and Dutch immigrants carried the surname to North America, and in English-speaking use it was later taken as a first name. Its use as a given name therefore does not have a separate medieval or religious history; it carries the surname's multiple possible senses, and the original one cannot be determined from the spelling alone.
How Popular is the Name Kemper?
Kemper 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 2009. Its best rank was #1,884 in 1947.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5,824 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 2024 | #6,496 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2023 | #4,930 | 27 | 0.0017% |
| 2022 | #6,579 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2021 | #6,064 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2020 | #7,757 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 2019 | #7,532 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2018 | #8,373 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2017 | #6,949 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2016 | #8,634 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #9,816 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2014 | #5,713 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2013 | #6,884 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2012 | #15,938 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #8,905 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2010 | #14,250 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #14,480 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #13,213 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #13,310 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2006 | #14,354 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #17,864 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #14,815 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1999 | #13,527 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,288 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2024 | #4,247 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 2023 | #3,591 | 32 | 0.0019% |
| 2022 | #3,825 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 2021 | #4,857 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2020 | #3,971 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 2019 | #4,284 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2018 | #3,024 | 39 | 0.0021% |
| 2017 | #2,822 | 43 | 0.0023% |
| 2016 | #3,036 | 39 | 0.0021% |
| 2015 | #2,399 | 54 | 0.0028% |
| 2014 | #2,832 | 42 | 0.0022% |
| 2013 | #2,481 | 50 | 0.0026% |
| 2012 | #2,196 | 60 | 0.0032% |
| 2011 | #2,567 | 48 | 0.0025% |
| 2010 | #2,386 | 53 | 0.0028% |
| 2009 | #1,998 | 70 | 0.0035% |
| 2008 | #2,770 | 44 | 0.0022% |
| 2007 | #2,551 | 49 | 0.0024% |
| 2006 | #2,236 | 57 | 0.0028% |
| 2005 | #2,121 | 58 | 0.0029% |
| 2004 | #2,146 | 55 | 0.0028% |
| 2003 | #5,161 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2002 | #6,323 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2001 | #5,532 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2000 | #7,840 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #6,287 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1998 | #6,082 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1997 | #4,818 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1996 | #5,781 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #4,966 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1994 | #7,385 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1993 | #7,219 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #5,078 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1991 | #4,630 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1990 | #6,824 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1988 | #6,139 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #7,587 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #4,675 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1985 | #3,702 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1984 | #6,856 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1983 | #4,715 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1982 | #6,883 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1979 | #6,560 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1978 | #4,800 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1975 | #4,128 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1973 | #3,330 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1972 | #4,213 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1971 | #3,065 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1970 | #3,682 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1968 | #3,243 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1967 | #2,209 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1966 | #3,385 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1965 | #3,727 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1964 | #3,457 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1963 | #2,773 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1962 | #2,590 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1961 | #3,520 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1960 | #2,612 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1959 | #3,434 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1958 | #4,235 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1957 | #3,146 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1956 | #3,374 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1955 | #2,672 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1954 | #2,082 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1953 | #3,041 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1951 | #3,218 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #3,186 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1949 | #3,157 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1948 | #3,495 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1947 | #1,884 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1946 | #2,807 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1944 | #2,389 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1943 | #3,396 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1942 | #3,836 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1941 | #2,775 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1940 | #2,248 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1937 | #3,044 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1936 | #3,823 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1935 | #3,114 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1934 | #3,146 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1932 | #4,047 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1931 | #4,060 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1930 | #3,813 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1929 | #3,119 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1928 | #3,936 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1927 | #3,032 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1926 | #3,267 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1924 | #3,383 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1923 | #2,701 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1922 | #4,655 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1921 | #2,561 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1920 | #3,086 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1919 | #2,329 | 13 | 0.0013% |
| 1918 | #2,333 | 13 | 0.0013% |
| 1917 | #3,766 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1916 | #3,350 | 7 | 0.0008% |
| 1915 | #2,124 | 13 | 0.0015% |
| 1913 | #2,652 | 6 | 0.0012% |
| 1912 | #2,734 | 5 | 0.0012% |
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 Kemper
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with K
How the Name Kemper 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 are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Kemper's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Kemper's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.