Calvin
How to say it: KAL-vin · /ˈkælvɪn/
From French 'Cauvin', derived from Latin 'calvus' meaning 'bald'. Associated with the Protestant reformer John Calvin.
Calvin was the 138th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 2,710 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1920s, its births are up about 8% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #148 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #138 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 2,710 |
| Share of births | 1 in 1,176 |
| Peak decade | 1920s |
| Change over 10 years | +8% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #148 |
| In France, 2025 | #889 among boys’ names, 15 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Calvin has stayed in continuous use since a high in the 1920s. Still close to that peak, it looks set to slip a little.
What goes with it
Breathy and neat in sound, Calvin carries a steady character. Everett makes a kindred choice and Cal is the natural short form.
Middle names that flow with Calvin →
Nicknames
- Cal
Honouring a Calvin in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Calvin is about 1 in 49.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Dutch, English, French, German.
In France: #889 for boys in 2025.
Ireland: #214.
Famous people named Calvin
- Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933)President of the United States from 1923 to 1929
- Calvin Klein (born 1942)American fashion designer
- Calvin Jong-a-Pin (born 1986)Dutch association football player
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- Calvin Klein, American designer fashion house founded 1968.
Keep exploring
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