Declining since 2018, #8,910 for boys today.
Popularity of Kesler since 1991
Babies named Kesler per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 25 |
| 2000s | 87 |
| 2010s | 149 |
| 2020s | 50 |
Meaning & origin
Kesler is a modern American first name that originated as a surname. It was first recorded for boys in 1991, and as of 2025 it ranks 8,910th nationally, with approximately 1 in 213,510 male births receiving the name. The name reached its peak popularity in 2019, but has been declining in use since 2018, reflecting a downward trajectory typical of many surname-inspired given names. Its top states are not clustered regionally, indicating a broad but sparse distribution. As a relatively recent coinage, Kesler fits into the category of modern occupational surnames turned first names, similar to names like Cooper or Mason, though far less common.
Kesler is a modern first name derived from the German surname Kessler, an occupational name for a coppersmith or maker of kettles (from Middle High German 'kessel' meaning 'kettle'). As a given name, it emerged in the United States in the late 20th century, primarily used for boys. It follows the trend of using surnames as first names, a common practice in American naming culture.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kes, Kez
Variants: Kessler, Keslar
Sibling names for Kesler
Names that share Kesler's style, for a brother or sister.
