Kem: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	45	45	5	–	#2,208
1950s	125	309	434	43	+864%	#930
1960s	174	227	401	40	-8%	#1,310
1970s	54	55	109	11	-73%	#3,066
1980s	–	28	28	3	-74%	#5,882
1990s	–	10	10	1	-64%	#9,491
2000s	–	6	6	1	-40%	#10,825
2010s	–	–	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

#2,208

1950s

125

309

434

+864%

#930

1960s

174

227

401

-8%

#1,310

1970s

109

-73%

#3,066

1980s

–

-74%

#5,882

1990s

–

-64%

#9,491

2000s

–

-40%

#10,825

2010s

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Kem

Kem is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1942, 1,033 American babies have been named Kem, about 66% boys and 34% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1956, when 85 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1950s.

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 Kem stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Kem?

The median living Kem is about 64 years old; half are between 59 and 68. An estimated 900 people named Kem are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Kem year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–	–	–
2024	–	–	–	–
2023	–	–	–	–
2022	–	–	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	–	–
2019	–	–	–	–
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	–	–	–	–
2016	–	–	–	–
2015	–	–	–	–
2014	–	–	–	–
2013	–	–	–	–
2012	–	–	–	–
2011	–	–	–	–
2010	–	–	–	–
2009	–	–	–	–
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	–	–	–	–
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	–	–	6	#10,825
2004	–	–	–	–
2003	–	–	–	–
2002	–	–	–	–
2001	–	–	–	–
2000	–	–	–	–
1995	–	–	–	–
1990	–	–	–	–
1985	–	–	–	–
1980	–	–	5	#6,782
1975	7	#7,522	–	–
1970	11	#4,900	10	#3,175
1965	20	#2,784	25	#1,576
1960	21	#2,685	26	#1,606
1955	14	#3,158	32	#1,355
1950	–	–	9	#2,675
1945	–	–	–	–
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	–	–	–	–
1930	–	–	–	–
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Kem, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Kem?

The median living Kem is about 64 years old. Half of all living Kems are between 59 and 68 years old.

How many people named Kem are alive today?

An estimated 900 people named Kem are alive in the United States, based on 1,033 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Kem in 2025?

Kem did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Kem?

1,033 babies have been named Kem in the United States since 1942, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Kem most popular?

Kem peaked in 1956, when 85 newborns received the name.

Is Kem a boy or girl name?

Kem is used for both: about 34% of babies named Kem have been girls and 66% boys.

Is the name Kem rising or falling?

Kem has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Kem

Kem popularity over time

The story of Kem

How old are people named Kem?

Kem year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Kem