Calvin

At a Glance: Name: Calvin – Meaning: little bald one (from a nickname for a bald person) – Origin: French (Norman-Picard), from Latin calvus "bald" – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: KAL-vin

---

Calvin is a classic boy's name with French (Norman-Picard) roots, tracing back to the Latin word calvus, meaning "bald." Its meaning, "little bald one," comes from an old nickname for a bald person. Pronounced KAL-vin, it's a name with a long, steady history in the U.S.

Meaning & Origin of Calvin

Meaning: Little bald one (from a nickname for a bald person).

Origin: French (Norman-Picard), from Latin calvus "bald".

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Calvin

Phonetic: KAL-vin   IPA: /ˈkælvɪn/

Popularity of Calvin

Calvin peaked at #44 in 1924 with 4,919 babies given the name, and by 2024 it sat at #140 with 2,568 — a century apart, but still a name parents keep choosing.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Calvin Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Calvin, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Adrian
• Anthony
• Benedict
• Christian
• Dominic
• Dominick

FAQ

What does the name Calvin mean?

Little bald one (from a nickname for a bald person). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Calvin)

How do you pronounce Calvin?

Calvin is pronounced KAL-vin (IPA: /ˈkælvɪn/).

Is Calvin a popular name right now?

Calvin peaked at #44 in 1924 and is ranked #140 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

More Baby Name Inspiration

• Check any name’s popularity history
• Take the naming-style quiz
• Make art for a different name