Possibly narrow or wooded river, in the Scottish river-name analysis.
The exact source marks these Gaelic components possible and records surname transfer into the given name. The deeper derivation remains uncertain rather than being presented as a settled translation.
Origin
Scottish Gaelic-linked river and surname transfer
The entry records given-name transfer from a Scottish Gaelic surname tied to a river. Several deeper word analyses and an additional surname influence are marked possible, so no one literal river meaning is presented as settled.
English pronunciation
/ˈkɛlvɪn/
Recorded English given-name and surname reading.
Recorded English reading, as published. Accents and preferred pronunciations can differ.
Published name usage
Counts apply only to the exact spelling, place, year and recorded usage shown. Places are separate; these figures are never added into a worldwide total. Missing or suppressed records never mean zero.
Latest published record available for this spelling in each place and recorded usage
Place
Year
Recorded usage
Published births
Rank
Notes
Canada
2025
Boys
6 · preliminary
2789
2025 figures are preliminary. Quebec counts below five are randomly imputed by the publisher before national aggregation. Accents are removed in the source; this profile was matched only where the catalog spelling was unambiguous. Unpublished values are unknown, not zero. Rank basis: source published.
France
2025
Boys
15 (rounded to 5)
1906
Counts are rounded to the nearest multiple of five. Ranks use unrounded publisher counts with randomly ordered ties; equally rounded counts can have different ranks. National coverage excludes Mayotte before 2012. Missing years are unavailable, not zero. Automated direction labels are withheld for this rounded-count series. Rank basis: source published.
England & Wales
2025
Boys
17
1538
Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: source published.
Northern Ireland
2020
Boys
3
392
Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: source published.
Scotland
2023
Boys
3
728
Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: source published.
Ireland
2022
Boys
3
779
Names below three occurrences are unpublished. Accent recording changed in 2018; comparisons across that boundary may not describe the same spelling coverage. Counts refer to registrations in the year. Missing years are unavailable, not zero. Rank basis: source published.
United States
2004
Girls
5
16099
Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: calculated from published counts.
United States
2025
Boys
214
1034
Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: calculated from published counts.
Canada, Ireland and France coverage includes confidently matched existing profiles only; unmatched spellings are awaiting review. French counts are rounded to five.
Sources & notes
Open an entry for its source, credit, licence and full qualifications. Different name traditions remain separate.
Meaning: Possibly narrow or wooded river, in the Scottish river-name analysis.
Checked against cited source
The exact source marks these Gaelic components possible and records surname transfer into the given name. The deeper derivation remains uncertain rather than being presented as a settled translation. Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adaptation: language scope and exact-name evidence condensed by Rare Baby Names; no audio or images reused. CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
Origin: Scottish Gaelic-linked river and surname transfer
Checked against cited source
The entry records given-name transfer from a Scottish Gaelic surname tied to a river. Several deeper word analyses and an additional surname influence are marked possible, so no one literal river meaning is presented as settled.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
English pronunciation: /ˈkɛlvɪn/
Checked against cited source
Recorded English given-name and surname reading.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0147-01, 1991–2025, released 23 September 2026.
Credit: Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0147-01, 1991–2025, released 23 September 2026.
License: Statistics Canada Open Licence
Adaptation: Adapted from Statistics Canada, First names at birth by sex at birth, selected indicators, Table 17-10-0147-01, reference years 1991–2025. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
Central Statistics Office, Ireland, VSA50 and VSA60, updated 27 February 2026.
Credit: Central Statistics Office, Ireland, VSA50 and VSA60, updated 27 February 2026.
License: CC BY 4.0
Adaptation: Adapted by Rare Baby Names: joined the published count and rank indicators and matched unambiguous existing spellings. Source values retained.
Source : Insee, Fichier des prénoms, updated 16 July 2026.
Credit: Source : Insee, Fichier des prénoms, updated 16 July 2026.
License: Open Licence 2.0 (Etalab)
Adaptation: Adapted by Rare Baby Names: column names and sex codes mapped and unique case-only spellings matched to existing profiles. Published rounded counts and ranks retained.