Kemp Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: Kemp /kɛmp/
Origin: English; Old Norse
Meaning: English: warrior; Old Norse: from the camp
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Kemp has its roots in Old English, derived from the word 'cempa,' which means 'warrior' or 'champion.' This term can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic '*kampaz,' which also conveys the idea of fighting or battle. The evolution of the name continued through Middle English, where it appeared as 'kempe' before being adopted into modern English as Kemp.
The transition reflects the linguistic shifts that occurred in England, particularly during the Norman Conquest, which introduced a variety of influences on the English language and its vocabulary. Historically, the name Kemp has been associated with various notable figures and events.
In the medieval period, it was not uncommon for individuals with this name to be found in positions of prominence, often linked to the martial traditions of the time. The name also appears in literature and records from the 15th century, including references to individuals who were involved in significant historical events, such as the Wars of the Roses.
Additionally, the name is sometimes connected to the legendary figure of John Kemp, who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury in the early 15th century, further embedding the name within the historical narrative of England. Culturally, the name Kemp has resonated through its associations with strength and valor, reflecting the characteristics of a warrior.
This symbolism has contributed to its endurance over the centuries. In some contexts, diminutive forms or variations, such as 'Kempsey,' have emerged, although these are less common.
The name's historical significance and its ties to notions of bravery and combat have allowed it to maintain a presence in various cultural narratives, reinforcing its legacy in English-speaking societies.
Famous people named Kemp
In this section, you will find notable people named Kemp. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Kemp who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Kemp who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Kemp Powers is a playwright and screenwriter best known for One Night in Miami, Soul, and the animated series Star Trek: Prodigy.
Kemp McCoy is a musician best known for his work with the band The New York Rock Ensemble and his solo albums.
Fictional characters named Kemp
The following list of fictional characters named Kemp is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Kemp is a fictional character from the novel and film The Invisible Man. He is a colleague of the protagonist, Dr. Griffin, who becomes embroiled in the chaos caused by Griffin's experiments.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Kemp, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Kemp. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Kemp was first seen in the United States in 1898.
Kemp has ranked as high as #3197 nationally, which occurred in 1957, and has been most popular in North Carolina.
In the past 5 years the name Kemp has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Kemp is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Kemp was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Kemp.
| Year | Total Births | Boy |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | 20 |
| 2024 | 15 | 15 |
| 2023 | 13 | 13 |
| 2022 | 7 | 7 |
| 2021 | 5 | 5 |
| 2020 | 9 | 9 |
| 2019 | 5 | 5 |
| 2018 | 12 | 12 |
| 2017 | 17 | 17 |
| 2016 | 12 | 12 |
| 2015 | 14 | 14 |
| 2014 | 11 | 11 |
| 2013 | 14 | 14 |
| 2012 | 8 | 8 |
| 2011 | 8 | 8 |
| 2010 | 8 | 8 |
| 2009 | 9 | 9 |
| 2007 | 11 | 11 |
| 2006 | 12 | 12 |
| 2005 | 12 | 12 |
| 2004 | 10 | 10 |
| 2003 | 6 | 6 |
| 2002 | 7 | 7 |
| 2001 | 6 | 6 |
| 2000 | 9 | 9 |
| 1999 | 6 | 6 |
| 1998 | 11 | 11 |
| 1997 | 11 | 11 |
| 1996 | 8 | 8 |
| 1995 | 12 | 12 |
| 1994 | 10 | 10 |
| 1993 | 8 | 8 |
| 1992 | 5 | 5 |
| 1991 | 10 | 10 |
| 1990 | 8 | 8 |
| 1989 | 11 | 11 |
| 1988 | 8 | 8 |
| 1987 | 8 | 8 |
| 1986 | 9 | 9 |
| 1984 | 7 | 7 |
| 1983 | 8 | 8 |
| 1982 | 8 | 8 |
| 1981 | 8 | 8 |
| 1980 | 5 | 5 |
| 1979 | 8 | 8 |
| 1978 | 8 | 8 |
| 1977 | 8 | 8 |
| 1976 | 7 | 7 |
| 1975 | 5 | 5 |
| 1974 | 16 | 16 |
| 1973 | 13 | 13 |
| 1972 | 11 | 11 |
| 1971 | 14 | 14 |
| 1970 | 13 | 13 |
| 1969 | 15 | 15 |
| 1968 | 16 | 16 |
| 1967 | 15 | 15 |
| 1966 | 13 | 13 |
| 1965 | 20 | 20 |
| 1964 | 22 | 22 |
| 1963 | 25 | 25 |
| 1962 | 24 | 24 |
| 1961 | 18 | 18 |
| 1960 | 24 | 24 |
| 1959 | 17 | 17 |
| 1958 | 14 | 14 |
| 1957 | 31 | 31 |
| 1956 | 17 | 17 |
| 1955 | 23 | 23 |
| 1954 | 18 | 18 |
| 1953 | 18 | 18 |
| 1952 | 19 | 19 |
| 1951 | 15 | 15 |
| 1950 | 8 | 8 |
| 1949 | 15 | 15 |
| 1948 | 10 | 10 |
| 1947 | 11 | 11 |
| 1946 | 13 | 13 |
| 1945 | 12 | 12 |
| 1944 | 12 | 12 |
| 1943 | 14 | 14 |
| 1942 | 13 | 13 |
| 1941 | 9 | 9 |
| 1939 | 11 | 11 |
| 1938 | 6 | 6 |
| 1937 | 9 | 9 |
| 1936 | 9 | 9 |
| 1935 | 9 | 9 |
| 1934 | 10 | 10 |
| 1933 | 12 | 12 |
| 1932 | 9 | 9 |
| 1931 | 9 | 9 |
| 1930 | 12 | 12 |
| 1929 | 9 | 9 |
| 1928 | 10 | 10 |
| 1927 | 9 | 9 |
| 1925 | 12 | 12 |
| 1924 | 12 | 12 |
| 1923 | 16 | 16 |
| 1922 | 11 | 11 |
| 1921 | 10 | 10 |
| 1920 | 15 | 15 |
| 1919 | 13 | 13 |
| 1918 | 12 | 12 |
| 1917 | 14 | 14 |
| 1916 | 9 | 9 |
| 1915 | 19 | 19 |
| 1914 | 10 | 10 |
| 1913 | 5 | 5 |
| 1912 | 14 | 14 |
| 1898 | 5 | 5 |
Top States for Kemp (1955)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NC | 6 |