Calvin Name Meaning

If you’re considering giving a baby boy the name Calvin, then you’re in good company. The name has been popular for centuries and is still going strong today. Let’s take a look at the history, origin, meaning, and popularity of the name.

The History of Calvin

The name Calvin is believed to have originated from the Latin name Calvinus, which is derived from the word “calvus” meaning “bald”. The name was first used in France in the Middle Ages. It was popularized in English speaking countries after the Protestant reformer John Calvin, who was born in 1509.

The Meaning of Calvin

The name Calvin is derived from the Latin word “calvus” which means “bald”. It has also been associated with words meaning “little bald one” and “bald hero”. It has also been interpreted to mean “wise” and “strong”.

Popularity of Calvin

The name Calvin has been popular in the United States since the late 19th century, and it has remained a favorite choice for boys ever since. It is currently in the top 100 most popular names in the United States, and it is especially popular in the Midwest and South.

Conclusion

The name Calvin is a timeless classic that has been popular for centuries. It has Latin roots, a strong meaning, and it is still popular today. If you’re looking for a unique and meaningful name for your baby boy, then Calvin might be just the right choice for you.

Infographic of Calvin name meaning, which is Meaning hairless one, Calvin is an English name.
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Calvin Name Popularity

How popular is the name Calvin? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 154 164 0.0466%
1911 163 166 0.0446%
1912 159 336 0.0666%
1913 162 401 0.0707%
1914 171 491 0.0705%
1915 167 661 0.0728%
1916 157 738 0.0764%
1917 159 760 0.076%
1918 158 850 0.0792%
1919 161 805 0.0769%
1920 138 1,078 0.097%
1921 131 1,256 0.1097%
1922 128 1,263 0.1134%
1923 82 2,397 0.214%
1924 44 4,912 0.423%
1925 47 4,297 0.3802%
1926 65 3,010 0.2737%
1927 73 2,679 0.242%
1928 94 2,119 0.198%
1929 109 1,646 0.1589%
1930 111 1,610 0.1541%
1931 119 1,428 0.1447%
1932 120 1,434 0.1451%
1933 113 1,468 0.1576%
1934 127 1,297 0.1342%
1935 127 1,305 0.1343%
1936 124 1,322 0.1372%
1937 124 1,320 0.134%
1938 122 1,442 0.1409%
1939 126 1,383 0.136%
1940 127 1,460 0.1374%
1941 131 1,495 0.1328%
1942 136 1,560 0.1235%
1943 126 1,751 0.1341%
1944 124 1,740 0.1404%
1945 124 1,777 0.1457%
1946 128 1,962 0.133%
1947 119 2,424 0.1452%
1948 117 2,382 0.1492%
1949 112 2,556 0.1589%
1950 105 2,728 0.1694%
1951 106 2,823 0.1665%
1952 108 2,965 0.1699%
1953 111 2,938 0.166%
1954 117 2,995 0.1638%
1955 110 3,141 0.1708%
1956 109 3,325 0.176%
1957 114 3,384 0.1759%
1958 123 3,106 0.1643%
1959 125 3,031 0.1595%
1960 129 2,899 0.153%
1961 127 2,852 0.1511%
1962 143 2,393 0.1303%
1963 141 2,389 0.1331%
1964 145 2,237 0.1271%
1965 153 2,036 0.1245%
1966 161 1,736 0.1112%
1967 154 1,761 0.116%
1968 155 1,742 0.116%
1969 163 1,691 0.1098%
1970 165 1,722 0.1082%
1971 168 1,579 0.1051%
1972 173 1,418 0.1041%
1973 175 1,321 0.1019%
1974 178 1,271 0.0978%
1975 178 1,254 0.0976%
1976 183 1,205 0.0935%
1977 179 1,265 0.0938%
1978 187 1,234 0.0918%
1979 181 1,313 0.0931%
1980 184 1,305 0.0893%
1981 172 1,431 0.0973%
1982 177 1,453 0.0972%
1983 180 1,402 0.095%
1984 176 1,433 0.0963%
1985 177 1,490 0.0982%
1986 162 1,648 0.1092%
1987 157 1,765 0.1157%
1988 152 1,788 0.1147%
1989 161 1,852 0.1148%
1990 172 1,762 0.1063%
1991 189 1,686 0.1034%
1992 192 1,600 0.1002%
1993 184 1,731 0.111%
1994 195 1,548 0.1009%
1995 181 1,700 0.1128%
1996 182 1,748 0.1167%
1997 192 1,697 0.1147%
1998 202 1,630 0.1089%
1999 211 1,609 0.1074%
2000 213 1,669 0.1093%
2001 215 1,596 0.1059%
2002 224 1,537 0.1026%
2003 223 1,553 0.1021%
2004 218 1,584 0.1039%
2005 219 1,603 0.1048%
2006 219 1,639 0.1047%
2007 229 1,596 0.1012%
2008 226 1,620 0.1048%
2009 231 1,553 0.1039%
2010 215 1,645 0.1142%
2011 208 1,688 0.1185%
2012 189 1,957 0.1373%
2013 194 2,055 0.1443%
2014 182 2,324 0.1595%
2015 169 2,433 0.1672%
2016 149 2,776 0.1925%
2017 145 2,689 0.1927%
2018 143 2,747 0.1999%
2019 145 2,621 0.1936%
2020 145 2,428 0.1908%
2021 145 2,564 0.2097%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Calvin

If you like Calvin, you’ll love these other names like Calvin.

What names are diminutives of Calvin?

A diminutive is a name that’s like Calvin sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Calvin, but shorter.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Cal

A diminutive form of Calvin.

English

What names are variants of Calvin?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Calvin.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Cal

A diminutive form of Calvin.

English

Calvino

Little bald one

French

Kalvin

Bald

Latin

Vinnie

Little bald one; prevailing

Latin

What names sound like Calvin?

If you like how Calvin sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Calvin.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Gallvin

Sparrow; brillantly white

Irish

Galvan

Sparrow; brillantly white

Irish

Galven

Sparrow; brillantly white

Irish

Galvin

Sparrow; brillantly white

Irish

Galvon

Sparrow; brillantly white

Irish

Kalvyn

Bald

Latin

Kelvin

Friend of ships

English

Lists With Calvin

Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Calvin.

Siblings of Calvin

Mamas with kids named Calvin also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Katharina
Holly

The holly tree

English

Hanna

He (God) has favored me

Hebrew

Nathan

He gave

Hebrew

Isaac

He will laugh

Hebrew

Olivia

Olive tree

Latin

Nora

Honorable one

Latin

Ryan

Little king

Irish

17 Comments

  1. Love the name

    Reply

  2. We named our son Calvin after the reformer John Calvin.

    Reply

    • I named my son after John Calvin as well!

      Reply

  3. We picked Calvin because we felt it is a strong, masculine, classic name without being over used. Our daughters all have classic names, so we didn’t want to stray from that. We also wanted it to be some what biblical and we like that it is after the theologian John Calvin. One of my husband’s favorite football players is Calvin Johnson, and we both liked Calvin and Hobbs as children.

    Reply

  4. Only name my partner and I both loved from the start! Such a cute and underused name we thought. Nickname is Cal <3

    Reply

  5. Believe it or not I did not pick his name, his dad did. If you ever heard of the cartoon or seen the newspaper cartoon of “Calvin and Hobbes“. That’s what came to mind when he named him. It isn’t a very common name now a days and it just stuck. As soon as I seen his face I knew we had to keep the name.

    Reply

  6. It was hard for both my husband and me to like the same name so when I suggested a full name around the Cal nickname we decided Calvin!

    Reply

  7. We wanted a traditional or old fashioned name that still felt unique and wasn’t too popular. We also wanted to make sure it sounded great with my husbands family middle name, Lewis. We chose the name by looking at lots of baby name lists sorted by popularity and both instantly loved it.

    Reply

  8. My son was named Calvin after an old comic in the Sunday newspaper. Some may not recall Calvin and Hobs. In the comic Calvin was a young boy who carried around a stuffed tiger named Hobs. To the little boy Hobs was real. They went on many imaginary adventures and got into a lot of trouble with his mom.

    Reply

  9. I came up with my son’s name from two of the Methodist founders John Calvin and John Wesley. We also liked the name Calvin die from an old newspaper comic called Calvin and Hobbes.

    Reply

  10. The name Calvin is a family name. He is named after his Great Grandfather whose name was James Calvin. I like the name and I feel it suites my child well.

    Reply

  11. We wanted a name that was not as common but still easy to say and spell. A respectable name that would last up into his adulthood. We also liked the idea of his nickname being “Cal.” And no, it’s not specifically based on Calvin & Hobbes. I also kept picking other names that sounded like mine & my brother Kevin’s, haha.

    Reply

  12. Its his fathers name.

    Reply

  13. We honestly just loved the name, there are no special connections to anything!

    Reply

  14. There’s no family tie to this name for our son, but we both just liked the sound of it with our last name, and his grandfather’s name as a middle name. We like that it’s an easily recognizable name without it being very common at all these days.

    Reply

  15. We wanted something biblical or of an esteemed theologian. Or something hipster. It was between Everett and Calvin (after John Calvin). We had decided on Everett before my son was born, but when we saw him, we knew he was Calvin. His middle name is my dads first name, James. Plus biblical.

    Reply

  16. We chose the name “Calvin” after John Calvin, a pastor and theologian from the 16th century who was a leading figure in the Protestant Reformation.

    Reply

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