Kline

Meaning of Kline

Kline is a name with suitcase stamps from several old-world ports: born of the German-Yiddish surname Klein, meaning “small” or “beloved little one,” yet brushing shoulders with the Greek κλίνη (klínē, “a couch”), the root of “clinic” and “recline.” One can almost picture a Renaissance map-maker jotting it in the margin, promising both modesty and rest. As a given name in the United States, Kline has danced on and off the national charts since 1913, never clamoring for the spotlight but, like a quiet star, maintaining a steady shimmer—its highest twirl came in the 1930s, and in recent years it still whispers onto about half a dozen birth certificates annually. Bearers may think of Oscar-winning actor Kevin Kline or the stylish minimalism of Calvin Klein, lending the name an air of artistic wit and tailored elegance. With its brisk one-syllable snap and its layered history, Kline offers parents a compact gift—parvus nomen, magnum cor: “a small name, a great heart.”

Pronunciation

English

• Pronunced as klyne (/klaɪn/)

• Kylan
• Klein
• Klayton
• Klint
• Klyde