Kestrel
Every Kestrel since 1985 — 339 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Kestrel
Kestrel is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #6,985 in 2025 with 16 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1985, 339 American babies have been named Kestrel — about 92% girls and 8% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2023, when 21 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 Kestrel stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Kestrel 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 | 16 | #6,985 | — | — |
| 2024 | 8 | #11,660 | 6 | #11,701 |
| 2023 | 15 | #7,463 | 6 | #11,589 |
| 2022 | 16 | #7,132 | — | — |
| 2021 | 12 | #8,733 | 5 | #13,172 |
| 2020 | 13 | #8,199 | 5 | #13,155 |
| 2019 | 19 | #6,300 | — | — |
| 2018 | 12 | #8,907 | — | — |
| 2017 | 16 | #7,262 | — | — |
| 2016 | 8 | #12,339 | — | — |
| 2015 | 11 | #9,820 | — | — |
| 2014 | 17 | #7,157 | — | — |
| 2013 | 8 | #12,606 | — | — |
| 2012 | 9 | #11,769 | 5 | #13,306 |
| 2011 | 10 | #10,802 | — | — |
| 2010 | 5 | #18,481 | — | — |
| 2009 | 8 | #13,085 | — | — |
| 2008 | 7 | #14,612 | — | — |
| 2007 | 6 | #16,566 | — | — |
| 2006 | 9 | #11,948 | — | — |
| 2005 | — | — | — | — |
| 2004 | 5 | #17,492 | — | — |
| 2003 | 9 | #10,874 | — | — |
| 2002 | 6 | #14,538 | — | — |
| 2001 | 8 | #11,542 | — | — |
| 2000 | 5 | #16,335 | — | — |
| 1995 | 5 | #14,581 | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1985 | 6 | #9,938 | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Kestrel in 2025?
Kestrel ranked #6,985 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 16 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Kestrel?
339 babies have been named Kestrel in the United States since 1985, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Kestrel most popular?
Kestrel peaked in 2023, when 21 newborns received the name.
Is Kestrel a boy or girl name?
Kestrel is used for both: about 92% of babies named Kestrel have been girls and 8% boys.
Is the name Kestrel rising or falling?
Kestrel is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.