At a glance
- In short
- Kjell is a unique Norwegian male name with a distinctive sound.
- U.S. rank 2025
- Not in the 2025 data · last seen 2014 (#10,717)
- Babies in 2014
- 6 (<0.01% of boys)
- Peak
- #2,109 in 1968
- First recorded
- 1958
Meaning of Kjell
Kjell is a male name with Norwegian origin. A variation of this name is Kjeld. In the United States, Kjell has been given to baby boys sporadically over the years. It had its highest occurrence in 2007 when it ranked 6619th in popularity, with a total of 12 occurrences that year. While not extremely popular, Kjell carries a unique and distinctive sound that may appeal to parents looking for an uncommon name for their son.
How to pronounce Kjell
Norwegian
- Pronounced shell /ʃɛl/
Popularity of Kjell in the U.S.
Kjell was last recorded in the U.S. in 2014, ranked #10,717 with 6 babies. It peaked at #2,109 in 1968. It first appears in the records in 1958.
- Rank among U.S. boy names (right scale, #1 at the top)
Year-by-year table, 1958–2014 43 rows
| Year | Babies | Rank | vs previous year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 6 | 10,717 | back (not recorded in 2012–2013) |
| 2011 | 6 | 10,808 | back (not recorded in 2008–2010) |
| 2007 | 12 | 6,622 | ▲ 2,963 |
| 2006 | 7 | 9,585 | ▲ 1,887 |
| 2005 | 5 | 11,472 | ▼ 2,545 |
| 2004 | 7 | 8,927 | ▲ 654 |
| 2003 | 6 | 9,581 | back (not recorded in 2000–2002) |
| 1999 | 12 | 5,317 | back (not recorded in 1997–1998) |
| 1996 | 5 | 9,015 | ▼ 2,023 |
| 1995 | 7 | 6,992 | ▼ 1,124 |
| 1994 | 9 | 5,868 | ▲ 948 |
| 1993 | 7 | 6,816 | ▲ 606 |
| 1992 | 6 | 7,422 | ▼ 2,662 |
| 1991 | 11 | 4,760 | ▲ 2,418 |
| 1990 | 6 | 7,178 | ▲ 727 |
| 1989 | 5 | 7,905 | ▼ 2,705 |
| 1988 | 8 | 5,200 | ▼ 961 |
| 1987 | 10 | 4,239 | ▲ 614 |
| 1986 | 8 | 4,853 | ▼ 155 |
| 1985 | 8 | 4,698 | ▲ 863 |
| 1984 | 6 | 5,561 | ▲ 677 |
| 1983 | 5 | 6,238 | ▼ 1,235 |
| 1982 | 7 | 5,003 | ▼ 1,145 |
| 1981 | 10 | 3,858 | ▼ 428 |
| 1980 | 12 | 3,430 | ▲ 380 |
| 1979 | 10 | 3,810 | ▼ 410 |
| 1978 | 11 | 3,400 | ▼ 363 |
| 1977 | 13 | 3,037 | ▼ 91 |
| 1976 | 13 | 2,946 | ▲ 132 |
| 1975 | 12 | 3,078 | ▲ 759 |
| 1974 | 8 | 3,837 | ▼ 824 |
| 1973 | 11 | 3,013 | ▲ 331 |
| 1972 | 9 | 3,344 | ▼ 880 |
| 1971 | 15 | 2,464 | ▲ 2,260 |
| 1970 | 5 | 4,724 | ▼ 1,410 |
| 1969 | 8 | 3,314 | ▼ 1,205 |
| 1968 | 15 | 2,109 | ▲ 1,122 |
| 1967 | 7 | 3,231 | ▲ 18 |
| 1966 | 7 | 3,249 | back (not recorded in 1965) |
| 1964 | 7 | 3,282 | back (not recorded in 1963) |
| 1962 | 8 | 3,041 | back (not recorded in 1961) |
| 1960 | 5 | 4,038 | back (not recorded in 1959) |
| 1958 | 5 | 3,944 | new |
Notable people named Kjell
- Kjell Lindgren is an American NASA astronaut who first traveled to the International Space Station in 2015.
- Kjell Magne Bondevik is a Norwegian Lutheran minister and politician who served twice as Norway's prime minister.
- Kjell Mikael Eriksson is a Swedish radio presenter, television personality, blogger and author known for his comedy and morning shows.
- Kjell Westo is a Finnish author and journalist who writes in Swedish and is best known for his epic novels set in Helsinki.
- Kjell Bloch Sandved was a Norwegian nature photographer best known for his Butterfly Alphabet, featuring butterfly wing patterns resembling letters and numbers.
More people named Kjell 10 more
- Kjell Nilsson was a Swedish Air Force lieutenant general, ice hockey player and chairman of the Swedish Ice Hockey Association.
- Kjell Scherpen is a Dutch goalkeeper who plays for Ipswich Town.
- Kjell Askildsen was a Norwegian author celebrated for his minimalist short stories.
- Kjell Koserius was a major general in the Swedish Air Force.
- Kjell Habbestad is a Norwegian composer of contemporary music.
- Kjell Anders Nordstrom is a Swedish economist, author and public speaker.
- Kjell Espmark was a Swedish writer, literary historian, and Swedish Academy member who chaired its Nobel committee from 1987 to 2004.
- Kjell Aukrust was a Norwegian writer, artist and humorist best known for his imaginative Flaklypa stories and drawings.
- Kjell Maale Roikjer was a Danish composer and bassoonist.
- Kjell Samuelson was a Swedish scientist and professor who pioneered systems science, cybernetics, and global networks.