Given name & surname
Kalin
“a mighty warrior”
Kalin is a variant of Kaelan. One interpretation is “a mighty warrior.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Kalin is a variant of Kaelan. One interpretation is “a mighty warrior.”
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1959. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kalin through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,416
- 1,897 boys · 1,519 girls
- Most popular year
- 1994
- 162 babies
- 2025
- 14
- #6,274 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −48%
- Cooling
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 86% boys.
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 14 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 6,274 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 40.6% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 94 in 1994. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,161 as a first name in 2020; 1,545 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Kalin’s family of names
Kalin has a related form in Kaila. Kalin has a related form in Kaelan. In Greek usage, Kalin as a surname is a transliteration of Καλίν.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Kalin
- Kalin LucasAmerican basketball player (born 1989)
- Kalin StepanyanRussian footballer1955–2024
- Kalin TerziyskiBulgarian writer (1970–2026)
- Kalin NaydenovBulgarian military personnel (1865-1925)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kalin, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Collin
“high” · “of the victorious people”
99% boys · 1% girls
Arin
“woman from Ireland” · “Exalted”
70% boys · 30% girls
Quentin
“the fifth-born child”
>99% boys
Keenan
“a small woman” · “of an ancient family”
>99% boys
Quinton
“from the queen's town or settlement”
>99% boys
Kody
“one who is helpful”
93% boys · 7% girls
Coleman
“one who burns charcoal; resembling a dove”
>99% boys
Darien
“a gift”
97% boys · 3% girls