Kalen
How to say it: KAY-len · /ˈkeɪlən/
Variant of Calen or Kalen, derived from Irish Gaelic, possibly related to 'slender' or a phonetic form of Caelan.
Kalen was the 1,192nd most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 71 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 2000s, its births are down about 18% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,250 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 | #1,192 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 71 |
| Share of births | 1 in 24,377 |
| Peak decade | 2000s |
| Change over 10 years | −18% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,250 |
| In France, 2025 | #293 among boys’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Kalen peaked in the 2000s.
What goes with it
Nicknames
- Kale
- Kay
Honouring a Kalen in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Kalen is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, Irish.
In France: #293 for boys in 2025.
Keep exploring
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