Kent
Kent is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Coastal land, edge, or high place.
Origin and history
Kent is a traditional English name originally derived from the county of Kent in southeast England. The place name itself likely traces back to an ancient Brythonic root meaning 'coastal land' or 'edge'. Historically steady in the United States, it enjoyed peak popularity in the mid-20th century and remains a recognizable, classic choice today.
Popularity in the United States
69,322 babies in the United States have been named Kent since 1880. It ranks #410 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1289.
States where it is most popular
- CA (10.4 %)
- IL (7.3 %)
- IN (5.3 %)
- OH (5.2 %)
- TX (4.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 5 |
| 1890-1900 | 31 |
| 1900-1910 | 55 |
| 1910-1920 | 388 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,082 |
| 1930-1940 | 3,123 |
| 1940-1950 | 8,346 |
| 1950-1960 | 18,691 |
| 1960-1970 | 19,258 |
| 1970-1980 | 6,728 |
| 1980-1990 | 4,999 |
| 1990-2000 | 2,902 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,615 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,425 |
| 2020-2029 | 674 |
Famous people named Kent
- Kent Conrad: Politician, US Senator
- Kent Hrbek: Baseball Player
- Kent Nagano: Conductor, Musician
Fun facts
- The name stems from the historic English county of Kent, one of the earliest recorded regions in Britain.
- It is widely recognized worldwide as the surname of Superman's alter ego, Clark Kent.