Kal
Every Kal since 1947 — 1,256 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Kal
Kal is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,320 in 2025 with 60 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1947, 1,256 American babies have been named Kal. Its peak came in 2021, when 72 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Kal stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Kal year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 60 | #2,320 |
| 2024 | 61 | #2,330 |
| 2023 | 64 | #2,234 |
| 2022 | 56 | #2,480 |
| 2021 | 72 | #2,048 |
| 2020 | 55 | #2,404 |
| 2019 | 55 | #2,446 |
| 2018 | 56 | #2,370 |
| 2017 | 55 | #2,365 |
| 2016 | 52 | #2,451 |
| 2015 | 55 | #2,375 |
| 2014 | 68 | #2,072 |
| 2013 | 18 | #5,071 |
| 2012 | 30 | #3,587 |
| 2011 | 13 | #6,414 |
| 2010 | 18 | #5,140 |
| 2009 | 13 | #6,627 |
| 2008 | 8 | #9,426 |
| 2007 | 15 | #5,795 |
| 2006 | 12 | #6,679 |
| 2005 | 14 | #5,731 |
| 2004 | 16 | #5,125 |
| 2003 | 14 | #5,411 |
| 2002 | 8 | #8,054 |
| 2001 | 10 | #6,709 |
| 2000 | 6 | #9,702 |
| 1995 | 5 | #9,582 |
| 1990 | 13 | #4,284 |
| 1985 | 9 | #4,513 |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1975 | 8 | #4,116 |
| 1970 | 5 | #5,089 |
| 1965 | 5 | #4,190 |
| 1960 | 9 | #2,969 |
| 1955 | 9 | #2,871 |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Kal
- Kal Penn Actor · b. 1977
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Kal in 2025?
Kal ranked #2,320 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 60 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Kal?
1,256 babies have been named Kal in the United States since 1947, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Kal most popular?
Kal peaked in 2021, when 72 newborns received the name.
Is Kal a boy or girl name?
Kal is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Kal rising or falling?
Kal is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Kal?
Well-known people named Kal include Kal Penn (actor).