Boy · French (from Latin) · International
Calvin
CalvinSay it KAL-vin
- Meaning
- From Latin Calvinus, a Roman surname from calvus, "bald" Online Etymology Dictionary, s.v. Calvin; Calvinism
- Say it
- KAL-vin
- Other spellings
- Kalvin
Calvin
Stays on your phone. A family name is never required.
Calvin meaning
Calvin is an international boy's name of French origin (from Latin).
From Latin Calvinus, a Roman surname from calvus, "bald"
Calvin comes from the surname of the Protestant reformer John Calvin (1509-1564), born Jean Cauvin in France. The Online Etymology Dictionary traces the surname to Latin Calvinus, a Roman family nickname from calvus, "bald", and notes that the French name Chauvin, which gave the word chauvinism, has the same origin. Roman nicknames often described looks, like Rufus for red hair, and few parents today think of the literal sense. The first name spread in the English-speaking world in honour of the reformer, and today it is chosen for its smooth sound rather than its literal sense.
Source: Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com), s.v. Calvin; Calvinism · entry Calvin · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Online Etymology Dictionary, Calvin · Online Etymology Dictionary, Calvinism
Famous namesakes
- John Calvin, Protestant reformer
Popularity abroad
- #132 United States, boys 2025 (up 8 from 140 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration - #771 England and Wales, boys 2025
Office for National Statistics
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Calvin · Kalvin