Kestrel
How to say it: KES-trul · /ˈkɛstrəl/
From English word for the small falcon; modern nature name - rare until late 20th century.
Kestrel was the 5,518th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 16 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up about 31% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #6,000 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #5,518 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 16 |
| Share of births | 1 in 207,208 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | +31% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #6,000 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Kestrel is a newcomer: almost all of its history is from the last forty years.
What goes with it
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Kestrel is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English.
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