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Kelso

Boy name · 3 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Kelso: 3 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 3 births in 2006.

A habitational surname turned given name, Kelso originates from the town in the Scottish Borders, whose name likely derives from the Old English *cēalc* “chalk” and *hōh* “heel of land,” describing a chalky ridge. Its most famous bearer is the American jazz trumpeter and bandleader “Dizzy” Gillespie—born John Birks Gillespie—who adopted “Dizzy” as a stage name, though his nickname “Dizzy Kelso” is less common. The name shares its root with the Scottish town of Kelso, whose abbey ruins and 18th-century square are beloved landmarks. While rare as a first name, Kelso has gained subtle recognition through the character Kelso from the television series *That ’70s Show*, lending it a laid-back, nostalgic charm for parents seeking an uncommon place-name with Scottish heritage.