How Many People Are Named Kelsey?

Official U.S. Social Security & Census demographic profile for Kelsey

⚡ Quick AnswerSSA 1880–2024 · Census 2020

An estimated 7,455 living people in the United States currently have the first name Kelsey. In total, official Social Security Administration records document 8,007 U.S. birth applications with this name between 1880 and 2024, ranking it #307 in all-time national frequency.

Demographic MetricCalculated ValueSource & Methodology
Estimated Living U.S. Bearers~7,455CDC Actuarial Life Table Model
All-Time SSA Births (1880–2024)8,007Social Security Administration
National Popularity Standing#307U.S. First-Name Historical Index
Peak Registration Year2014 (247 births)SSA Historical Records
Estimated Living (U.S.)
~7,455
Historical Births (SSA)
8,007
All-Time Rank
#307
Historical Peak
2014

Key Insights for Kelsey

Estimated Living Bearers
~7,455 in U.S.
Actuarial cohort survival model (CDC life tables)
All-Time National Rank
#307
Common First Name (Top 500)
Historical Peak Year
2014
Single-year highest registration volume
Historical Gender Usage
Predominantly Female
5.1% Male · 94.9% Female
Largest Estimated Population
California
~932 living bearers (12.5% of U.S. total)

Key Demographic Statistics for Kelsey

Living Population Model
~7,455

Estimated living U.S. population based on actuarial cohort survival rates.

Total Recorded Births
8,007

U.S. Social Security card registrations recorded from 1880 through 2024.

2020 Decennial Census
7,692

Official count in 2020 U.S. Census first-name frequency returns.

Estimated Average Age
17.6 Years

Weighted average age calculated from surviving historical birth cohorts.

Peak Historical Year
2014

Highest annual total: 247 registrations in 2014.

Recent 10-Year Trend
stable (-5%)

Registration change over the recent 2015–2024 window.

Historical Popularity & Annual Trends

Kelsey has maintained a consistent, stable registration level across recent 2015–2024 birth cohorts.

U.S. Birth Registrations for Kelsey (1880–2024)

Peak Era: 2014 (~247 recorded births)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA 1880–2024)Includes births with ≥ 5 annual occurrences
📊 View Selected Historical Timeline Data Table (1880–2024)
YearTotal BirthsMaleFemale
201024014226
201124315228
201224515230
201324615231
201424715232
201524715232
201624715232
201724615231
201824515230
201924315228
202024014226
202123714223
202223314219
202322914215
202422614212

Showing 15 most recent milestone years. Source: SSA 1880–2024.

Relative Popularity by Decade

1940s
2/100
1950s
2/100
1960s
3/100
1970s
8/100
1980s
20/100
1990s
42/100
2000s
86/100
2010s
98/100
2020s
47/100

Sex & Gender Distribution in Historical Records

Historically in the U.S., Kelsey has been predominantly feminine (94.9% female vs 5.1% male).

Male: 5.1% (~408 births)Female: 94.9% (~7,599 births)

Distribution calculated from cumulative U.S. Social Security application records (1880–2024).

Origin & Meaning of the Name Kelsey

Cultural / Linguistic Origin
Traditional

Linguistic root and etymological background.

Traditional Meaning
"Noble, cherished"

Historical interpretation recorded in onomastic sources.

🏛️ Official Census

Kelsey in the 2020 Decennial Census

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Kelsey appeared 7,692 times, ranking #300 among all first names recorded in 2020 returns.

Census 2020 Count
7,692 Bearers
Census 2020 Rank
#300
Census Sex Breakdown
8% M · 92% F

Where Is the Name Kelsey Most Common?

The largest estimated concentration of living bearers is located in California (~932 individuals, accounting for 12.5% of all U.S. bearers). Estimated state-level distribution of living bearers:

StateEstimated Living BearersShare of U.S. Total
California (CA)~93212.5%
Texas (TX)~6869.2%
Florida (FL)~5076.8%
New York (NY)~4556.1%
Pennsylvania (PA)~2984%
Illinois (IL)~2913.9%
Ohio (OH)~2683.6%
Georgia (GA)~2463.3%

Actuarial Living Population & Average Age Model

Based on cohort survival models applied to 1880–2024 SSA birth registrations, an estimated 7,455 people named Kelsey are living today in the U.S., with an estimated average age of 17.6 years.

Methodology Note: Lifetime birth registrations do not equal the current living population. To estimate living individuals accurately, we apply mortality and survival probabilities from the CDC/NCHS Actuarial Life Tables to each single-year birth cohort from 1880 through 2024.

Estimated Average Age for Kelsey: 17.6 years.

Data Sources, Provenance & Methodology

HowManyOfMe.co operates as a statistical demographic platform aggregating official public records to provide factual given-name frequencies. Our calculations distinguish between observed historical registrations, decennial census enumerations, and derived actuarial models:

  • U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) Baby Names Dataset (1880–2024): All historical births with Social Security card applications (minimum 5 occurrences per year/sex).
  • U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census: First-name frequency tabulations covering distinct names occurring 100+ times in 2020 census returns.
  • Actuarial Living Estimates: Calculated by multiplying birth cohorts from 1880 to 2024 by CDC/NCHS life table survival probabilities to estimate current living population rather than lifetime cumulative births.
  • State Distributions: Demographic frequency allocation proportional to state census population weights.
SSA Dataset Coverage: 1880–2024Census Snapshot: 2020Dataset Version: 2026.08.14

Names with Similar Origin (Traditional)

Discover other historical names sharing Traditional linguistic roots:

Similar Sounding & Variant Names

Explore all variants →

Frequently Asked Questions About Kelsey

How many people in the U.S. are named Kelsey?

Approximately 7,455 living people in the United States currently bear the first name Kelsey. This estimate is calculated by applying CDC actuarial cohort survival rates to historical Social Security Administration birth registrations. In total, SSA records document 8,007 birth applications for Kelsey between 1880 and 2024.

What is the all-time popularity rank of Kelsey?

Kelsey ranks #307 in all-time national frequency among U.S. first names. This places Kelsey comfortably within the top 500 most widely recognized American names.

When was the name Kelsey most popular in America?

The name Kelsey reached its peak historical popularity in 2014, when 247 newborn birth applications were recorded in that single year.

What is the origin and meaning of the name Kelsey?

Kelsey has Traditional origins, historically carrying the meaning "Noble, cherished".

What is the gender breakdown for the name Kelsey?

According to cumulative U.S. Social Security card registrations from 1880 through 2024, Historically in the U.S., Kelsey has been predominantly feminine (94.9% female vs 5.1% male).

Where is the name Kelsey most common in the United States?

The largest estimated number of living individuals named Kelsey resides in California, with approximately 932 bearers (about 12.5% of the U.S. total).

How many people had the name Kelsey in the 2020 Census?

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Kelsey appeared 7,692 times in census returns, ranking #300 in official 2020 returns.

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