Meaning & origin
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1915. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kelso through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 387
- 387 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 24 babies
- 2025
- 14
- #6,287 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +50%
- Rising fast
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 14 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 6,287 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 50.0% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 301 as a first name in 2020; 8,169 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.
Kelso’s family of names
In Greek usage, Kelso as a surname is a transliteration of Κέλσο.
The ring: spellings.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Kelso, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Carwyn
Carwyn is a masculine given name from Welsh. It is used in English and Welsh.
>99% boys
Eirian
“one who is bright and beautiful”
78% boys · 22% girls
Evans
“God is gracious”
88% boys · 12% girls
Kieran
“having dark features; the little dark one”
97% boys · 3% girls
Emrys
“an immortal man”
79% boys · 21% girls
Taliesin
“having a shiny forehead”
>99% boys
Kian
“from an ancient family”
>99% boys
Callan
“one who is powerful in battle” · “a talkative woman”
95% boys · 5% girls