Kelvin is a name of English origin, derived from the Old English word "cwelm" which means "wise" or "strong-willed". It is also associated with the Kelvin River in Scotland, giving it a Scottish connection as well.
The name Kelvin has a rich history that dates back to medieval times. In the 10th century, there was a Saint Chelm who was an Irish abbot and missionary. Although his name was later Latinized to "Chelim," it is believed that the modern name Kelvin evolved from this original form.
In the 19th century, the name Kelvin became more popular due to its association with the Kelvin scale of temperature, named after William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, a Scottish mathematician and physicist who formulated the concept of absolute zero in thermodynamics. This further solidified the name's connection to Scotland and science.
Today, Kelvin is still considered a strong and powerful name, fitting for those who embody wisdom and strength of character. It remains popular among parents looking for unique and meaningful names for their children. Despite its historical roots, Kelvin is not associated with any specific cultural traditions or celebrations. Instead, it stands as a timeless name with a rich heritage that spans centuries and continents.
The name Kelvin has seen a significant shift in popularity over the past century in the United States. In the early 20th century, it was quite rare, with fewer than 10 births per year between 1912 and 1933. However, starting from the mid-1930s, its popularity began to rise steadily.
By the late 1940s and early 1950s, Kelvin reached a significant milestone with over 100 births per year consistently. The peak of popularity for the name occurred in the late 1950s to mid-1960s, during which time there were over 1,000 births each year. The years 1960 and 1961 saw the highest number of Kelvin births, with 1,300 and 1,370 respectively.
However, like many names that reach peak popularity, Kelvin's prevalence began to decline in the late 1960s. By the early 1970s, the number of annual Kelvin births was around half of what it had been at its peak. This trend continued into the 1980s and 1990s, with fewer than 1,000 Kelvin births each year.
The new millennium brought a further decline in the popularity of the name Kelvin. From 2000 onwards, there were consistently fewer than 700 Kelvin births per year. This downward trend continued into the 2010s and 2020s, with the most recent data from 2023 showing only 231 Kelvin births.
In total, over the past century, there have been 51,129 recorded births of the name Kelvin in the United States. Despite its decline in popularity, it remains a name with historical significance and continues to be chosen by parents for their children.