Kolben is a German masculine given name derived from the Middle High German word 'kolbe', which means 'barrel' or 'vessel'. It was popular during the Middle Ages but has since become quite rare, even in Germany. The name was likely given to children whose parents hoped they would grow up to be strong and sturdy, much like a barrel. Kolben can also be considered a short form of names such as Koloman or kolbein.
The name Kolben experienced a significant drop in popularity between 2007 and 2008, with the number of births decreasing from 15 to 5. However, it saw some recovery in subsequent years, fluctuating between 5 and 8 births annually until 2011 when it dipped again to 6 births. Overall, there were 47 children named Kolben born between 2007 and 2012.