Kent Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Kent has its origins in Old English, derived from the word 'Cent,' which refers to a border or coastal district. It has evolved through historical forms, maintaining its connection to the region of Kent in England. The name embodies traits of strength and tradition, with no direct biblical relevance. It gained popularity during the early medieval period and continues to be recognized today.
The name Kent is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Baby Boomers generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Kent has been too falling for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Kent' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 731st out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 277th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 159th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 242nd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 459th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1037th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1363rd out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 9107th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 9204th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 5919th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 8765th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 18891st out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Kent' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Kent"
Pronunciation
/kɛnt/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Kent is derived from the Old English 'Cent', which is thought to refer to the Celtic word 'canto,' meaning 'border' or 'coastal district.' It is also associated with the historic county of Kent in southeastern England.
Meaning
border, coastal district
Language Evolution
Cent (Old English), Canto (Celtic), Kent (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in England during the early medieval period, particularly associated with the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Kent, which was one of the earliest established kingdoms in England.
Variants & Derivatives
Kenton, Kente
Modern Popularity & Image
Kent is perceived as a traditional and strong name, often associated with the historical and cultural significance of the county. It remains a relatively common name in modern times.
Famous People
Kent Hrbek, Kent McCord, Kent Nagano
Explore More Kent Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Kent"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Kent"
"Kent" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 731st of 7545 | 1,254 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 277th of 6773 | 7,629 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 159th of 7552 | 34,802 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 242nd of 10718 | 14,482 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 459th of 16616 | 6,746 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1037th of 24088 | 2,648 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1363rd of 23106 | 1,623 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 9107th of 9107 | 5 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 9204th of 9204 | 5 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 5919th of 12526 | 78 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 8765th of 19264 | 62 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 18891st of 27321 | 21 |
Regional Popularity of "Kent" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
41.03% 581st/1416 |
53.59% 739th/1379 |
60.69% 1436th/2366 |
37.65% 430th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
12.48% 193rd/1546 |
18.64% 290th/1556 |
22.31% 525th/2353 |
10.28% 159th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
5.07% 113th/2227 |
9.22% 224th/2430 |
8.41% 240th/2853 |
4.40% 122nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
5.58% 164th/2937 |
9.02% 314th/3483 |
9.35% 329th/3518 |
6.01% 243rd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
8.60% 317th/3685 |
11.78% 527th/4475 |
10.28% 534th/5194 |
6.93% 438th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
21.24% 973rd/4582 |
22.70% 1172nd/5164 |
17.01% 1244th/7313 |
12.14% 906th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
31.85% 1269th/3984 |
35.10% 1575th/4487 |
22.05% 1504th/6822 |
19.93% 1251st/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Kent" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Kent"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Kent" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.