Where does the name Calvin come from?

Calvin is a boy name of French origin.

Is Calvin a boy or a girl name?

Calvin is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 1% of children given the name Calvin are girls and 99% are boys.

How popular is the name Calvin in 2023?

Calvin ranks #152 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1924 with 4,940 babies.

How do you pronounce Calvin?

Calvin is pronounced KAL-vin (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Calvin?

Calvin is also written as Cal, Kalvin.

A name from French · Boy

Calvin

From the French surname Cauvin (a diminutive of chauve meaning 'bald'), made famous by the Protestant reformer John Calvin in the 16th century. Adopted as a given name in his honor.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 143-year arc in numbers.

215,777 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023.

Popularity · 1880–2023

2,411 births in 2023

1880 1951 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

CFrom the French surname Cauvin (a diminutive of chauve meaning 'bald'), made famous by the Protestant reformer John Calvin in the 16th century. Adopted as a given name in his honor.

Variants & spellings

2 ways to spell "Calvin".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Cal Most common Kalvin

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Calvin.

C
Calvin Klein (designer)
C
Calvin Coolidge (30th U.S. president)
C
Calvin Harris (DJ)

Quick answers

People often ask about Calvin.

What does the name Calvin mean?: Calvin means from the French surname Cauvin (a diminutive of chauve meaning 'bald'), made famous by the Protestant reformer John Calvin in the 16th century. Adopted as a given name in his honor.
Where does the name Calvin come from?: Calvin is a boy name of French origin.
Is Calvin a boy or a girl name?: Calvin is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 1% of children given the name Calvin are girls and 99% are boys.
How popular is the name Calvin in 2023?: Calvin ranks #152 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1924 with 4,940 babies.
How do you pronounce Calvin?: Calvin is pronounced KAL-vin (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Calvin?: Calvin is also written as Cal, Kalvin.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.