Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1968

Kjell

Meaning Kjell is a Scandinavian usually male given name Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists

Kjell is a Scandinavian usually male given name.

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Kjell
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1968
15 babies
All-time total
360
#9,600 all-time among boys
First recorded
1958
in Social Security records

Kjell popularity over time

360 babies have been named Kjell since 1958, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
00.010.010.0118801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1968Boys

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 Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s – – – –
1920s – – – –
1930s – – – –
1940s – – – –
1950s 5 1 – #4,246
1960s 57 6 +1040% #2,151
1970s 107 11 +88% #2,509
1980s 79 8 -26% #3,524
1990s 63 6 -20% #4,955
2000s 37 4 -41% #6,890
2010s 12 1 -68% #11,509
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Kjell

Kjell 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 1958, 360 American babies have been named Kjell. Its peak came in 1968, when 15 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1960s.

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

How old are people named Kjell?

The median living Kjell is about 44 years old; half are between 32 and 52. An estimated 300 people named Kjell are alive in the United States today.

median 44 020406080100

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

Kjell year by year

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

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 – –
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 – –
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 6 #11,509
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 6 #11,646
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 12 #6,890
2006 7 #10,181
2005 5 #12,507
2004 7 #9,501
2003 6 #10,299
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 7 #7,435
1990 6 #7,680
1985 8 #4,949
1980 12 #3,524
1975 12 #3,160
1970 5 #5,114
1965 – –
1960 5 #4,347
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Kjell

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Kjell N. Lindgren Kjell N. Lindgren American astronaut (born 1973) Contemporary
  2. 2 Kjell Magne Bondevik Kjell Magne Bondevik Prime Minister of Norway (1997–2000; 2001–2005) b. 1947 · Contemporary
  3. 3 Kjell Eugenio Laugerud García Kjell Eugenio Laugerud García 36th President of Guatemala from 1974 to 1978 1930–2009 · Contemporary
  4. 4 Kjell Carlström Kjell Carlström Finnish road bicycle racer b. 1976 · Contemporary
  5. 5 Kjell Westö Kjell Westö Finnish writer and journalist (born 1961) Contemporary
  6. 6 Kjell Askildsen Kjell Askildsen Norwegian writer (1929–2021) Contemporary
  7. 7 Kjell Ola Dahl Kjell Ola Dahl Norwegian writer (born 1958) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Kjell?

The median living Kjell is about 44 years old. Half of all living Kjells are between 32 and 52 years old.

How many people named Kjell are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Kjell are alive in the United States, based on 360 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Kjell mean?

Kjell is a Scandinavian usually male given name.

How popular is the name Kjell in 2025?

Kjell 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 Kjell?

360 babies have been named Kjell in the United States since 1958, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Kjell most popular?

Kjell peaked in 1968, when 15 newborns received the name.

Is Kjell a boy or girl name?

Kjell is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Kjell rising or falling?

Kjell is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Kjell?

Well-known people named Kjell include Kjell N. Lindgren (astronaut), Kjell Magne Bondevik (politician), Kjell Eugenio Laugerud García (politician).

Names like Kjell

Names that sound and feel close to Kjell: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Kjell with similar names → More names starting with K →