Kipling
A boy's name of Old English origin with 389 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A surname.
Kipling is a boy's baby name of Old English origin, a surname meaning 'curing place' or from a place name in Yorkshire — made famous by Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), the Nobel Prize-winning author of The Jungle Book and Kim.
Kipling as a given name honors one of the 19th century's most beloved storytellers, whose tales of Mowgli and Shere Khan defined childhood reading for generations. It carries both literary prestige and the solid, old-fashioned charm of British surnames-as-names. With nearly 400 recorded U.S. births, it has found an audience.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Kipling's final sounds are sharp, distinct — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. In English-language naming, masculine names frequently end on harder consonants or closed syllables, creating a sense of decisiveness and strength. Kipling follows that masculine pattern.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Kipling's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Kipling has 47+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1952.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 43 | #9330 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 86 | #8128 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 16 | #12207 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 18 | #9376 | — |
| 1980s | 18 | #6476 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 59 | #4434 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 96 | #3072 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 53 | #3349 | — |
The Story of Kipling
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2016, Kipling is a fresh, modern favorite. Boys named Kipling are most likely born between 2006 and 2024.
How rare is Kipling?
Only about 1 in every 600,000 babies born in 2024 was named Kipling — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1952, peaked in the 1960s with 96 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Kipling by the numbers
- Would fill 8 school buses
- Meeting one Kipling per day would take 1.1 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(47 years, 1952–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | #11692 |
| 2023 | 6 | #11610 |
| 2022 | 11 | #7523 |
| 2021 | 9 | #8544 |
| 2020 | 11 | #7279 |
| 2019 | 9 | #8575 |
| 2018 | 12 | #6950 |
| 2017 | 16 | #5679 |
| 2016 | 16 | #5678 |
| 2015 | 5 | #13156 |
| 2014 | 10 | #7881 |
| 2012 | 10 | #7881 |
| 2011 | 8 | #9227 |
| 2007 | 5 | #13498 |
| 2006 | 6 | #11431 |
| 2002 | 5 | #11692 |
| 1999 | 5 | #10865 |
| 1998 | 5 | #10543 |
| 1995 | 8 | #6721 |
| 1989 | 6 | #7478 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kipling a boy's or girl's name?
When was Kipling most popular?
How popular is the name Kipling?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1952–2024