Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Calvin
BoyFrench, Latin· “bald”
- Meaning
- bald
- Origin
- French, Latin
- Pronunciation
- KAL-vihn
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #132
- US babies 2025
- 2,710
- Best rank
- #44 (1924)
- Peak year
- 1924
Meaning and origin of Calvin
Calvin is a French and Latin name that means “bald”.
Calvin comes from Cauvin, a French surname derived from the Latin calvus, "bald," originally a nickname. The Protestant reformer John Calvin was born Jean Cauvin, and admiration for his teaching made Calvin a popular given name among Protestant families in Britain and America. The United States president Calvin Coolidge is a well-known bearer. The name has since shed much of its religious association and feels friendly and clever, helped by the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes. It is classic without being stuffy, and Cal makes a short, easygoing nickname.
Popularity over time
Calvin has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #44 in 1924, the same year it reached its highest count of 4,918 babies. In 2025, 2,710 babies were named Calvin, and it ranked #132 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #139 in 1920, #105 in 1950, #185 in 1980, #214 in 2000, #215 in 2010, and #132 in 2025. Of the 221,064 US boys named Calvin since records began, 14% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1920s come next, with 24,785 babies. Since 2010, 38,504 more have been named Calvin.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Bernard, Leroy, Clifford, Fred, and Wallace.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Calvin ranked highest in Minnesota, Utah, and Vermont.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | #32 | 117 |
| Utah | #35 | 95 |
| Vermont | #40 | 10 |
| New Hampshire | #53 | 25 |
| Maine | #56 | 19 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Calvin is usually pronounced KAL-vihn, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with C and ends in “-in”.
Middle names for Calvin
A few middle names that flow with Calvin: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Calvin
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Lists that include Calvin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Calvin mean?
Calvin is a French and Latin name that means “bald”.
What is the origin of the name Calvin?
Calvin has French and Latin roots. Calvin comes from Cauvin, a French surname derived from the Latin calvus, "bald," originally a nickname.
Is Calvin a popular name?
Yes. Calvin ranked #132 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Calvin a boy or girl name?
Calvin is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Calvin?
Calvin is usually pronounced KAL-vihn. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings