Kemper Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KEM-per //ˈkɛmpər//
Origin: English; German
Meaning: English: warrior; German: from the edge of the meadow
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Kemper has its roots in the Germanic language, deriving from the Old High German word "kemper," which means "warrior" or "champion." This term is related to the Middle Dutch "kemper," which also carries the connotation of a fighter or a champion in battle. The name made its way into English through the influence of German settlers and the migration of Germanic tribes into England during the early medieval period, particularly around the 5th to 7th centuries.
As a result, Kemper can be seen as a name that embodies strength and valor, reflecting the martial heritage of its linguistic origins. Historically, the name Kemper has been associated with various notable figures, particularly in German-speaking regions.
During the Middle Ages, the name was borne by individuals who were often involved in military or noble pursuits, aligning with its meaning. The name also appears in various historical documents and records from the 12th century onward, indicating its use among the nobility and warrior classes.
Additionally, the name may have been carried by individuals who participated in significant events, such as the Crusades, which were prominent from the late 11th century to the late 13th century. Culturally, the name Kemper resonates with themes of bravery and honor, often associated with the ideals of chivalry and knighthood prevalent in medieval Europe.
The name has been preserved in various forms and has been adopted in different cultures, maintaining its connotation of strength. While diminutive forms or variations may exist, the name Kemper itself has retained a consistent identity throughout its history, symbolizing a connection to the warrior spirit and the valorous traditions of its Germanic roots.
Famous people named Kemper
In this section, you will find notable people named Kemper. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Kemper who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Kemper who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Kemper Freeman is a businessman best known for founding the Kemper Development Company and developing The Bellevue Collection.
Kemper Lesnik is a public relations executive best known for his work with various high-profile clients and events.
Fictional characters named Kemper
The following list of fictional characters named Kemper is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Kemper is a fictional character from the film The Silence of the Lambs. He is a serial killer whose actions are central to the investigation led by FBI trainee Clarice Starling.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Kemper, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Kemper. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Kemper was first seen in the United States in 1912.
Kemper has ranked as high as #4256 nationally, which occurred in 2009, and has been most popular in Virginia, Texas, Kansas, Ohio, and Mississippi.
In the past 5 years the name Kemper has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Kemper is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Kemper was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Kemper.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 35 | 14 | 21 |
| 2024 | 43 | 25 | 18 |
| 2023 | 59 | 32 | 27 |
| 2022 | 47 | 29 | 18 |
| 2021 | 40 | 20 | 20 |
| 2020 | 40 | 26 | 14 |
| 2019 | 39 | 24 | 15 |
| 2018 | 52 | 39 | 13 |
| 2017 | 60 | 43 | 17 |
| 2016 | 52 | 39 | 13 |
| 2015 | 65 | 54 | 11 |
| 2014 | 65 | 42 | 23 |
| 2013 | 68 | 50 | 18 |
| 2012 | 66 | 60 | 6 |
| 2011 | 61 | 48 | 13 |
| 2010 | 60 | 53 | 7 |
| 2009 | 77 | 70 | 7 |
| 2008 | 52 | 44 | 8 |
| 2007 | 57 | 49 | 8 |
| 2006 | 64 | 57 | 7 |
| 2005 | 63 | 58 | 5 |
| 2004 | 55 | 55 | 0 |
| 2003 | 21 | 15 | 6 |
| 2002 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 2001 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 2000 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1999 | 16 | 10 | 6 |
| 1998 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1997 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1996 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1995 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1994 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1993 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1992 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1991 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1990 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1988 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1987 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1986 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1985 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1984 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1983 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1982 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1979 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1978 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1975 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1973 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1972 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1971 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1970 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1968 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1967 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1966 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1965 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1964 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1963 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1962 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1961 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1960 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1959 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1958 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1957 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1956 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1955 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1954 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1953 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1951 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1950 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1949 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1948 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1947 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1946 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1944 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1943 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1942 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1941 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1940 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1937 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1936 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1935 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1934 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1932 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1931 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1930 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1929 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1928 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1927 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1926 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1924 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1923 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1922 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1921 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1920 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1919 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1918 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1917 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1916 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1915 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1913 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1912 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Top States for Kemper (2016)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| KS | 5 | |
| MS | 5 |