Kjell was a popular name in Norway in the mid-1900s. It ranked at #3 in 1930 (behind Arne and Odd), #2 in 1935 (behind Arne), #3 in 1940 (behind Jan and Per), #4 in 1945 (behind Jan, Per and Bjørn), #5 in 1950 (behind Jan, Per, Bjørn and Svein), #4 in 1955 (behind Jan, Per and Bjørn), #6 in 1960, #8 in 1965, and was out of the top 10 by 1970.