Kendall Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KEN-dahl //ˈkɛn.dəl//
Origin: English; Scottish
Meaning: English: valley of the river Kent; Scottish: from the Kent river
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Kendall has its roots in Old English, deriving from the elements "cyn" meaning "royal" or "kin" and "dæl" meaning "valley." The name originally referred to a geographical location, specifically a valley associated with a royal lineage, and was used as a surname before transitioning into a given name. The surname Kendall can be traced back to the 13th century in England, where it was used to denote individuals from the area around the River Kent in Cumbria, which is believed to be the origin of the name.
Over time, the name made its way into the realm of first names, particularly in the 20th century, as naming conventions evolved to embrace surnames as first names. Historically, the name Kendall has been associated with various notable figures and places.
One significant milestone in its history is its appearance in literature and records from the medieval period, where it was often linked to the nobility and landowners. The name's association with the River Kent and the surrounding valleys contributed to its geographical significance, as many places in England adopted the name for their own localities.
Additionally, the name has been referenced in various historical texts and documents, reinforcing its connection to English heritage. Culturally, Kendall carries connotations of strength and nobility, reflecting its etymological roots.
The name has been embraced in various forms of art and literature, often symbolizing a connection to nature and the landscape of England. The diminutive form "Kenny" has also emerged, although it is less commonly used.
Overall, the name Kendall encapsulates a rich historical narrative that intertwines geography, lineage, and cultural significance, contributing to its enduring presence in the English-speaking world.
Famous people named Kendall
In this section, you will find notable people named Kendall. 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 Kendall who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Kendall 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.
Kendall Jenner is a model and television personality best known for Keeping Up with the Kardashians, her modeling work, and her beauty brand.
Fictional characters named Kendall
The following list of fictional characters named Kendall 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.
Kendall is a fictional character from the TV series Big Time Rush. He is the lead singer of the boy band and often takes on a leadership role among his friends.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Kendall, 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 Kendall. 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 Kendall was first seen in the United States in 1929.
Kendall has ranked as high as #268 nationally, which occurred in 2012, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Florida, Ohio, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Kendall has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Kendall 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 Kendall was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Kendall (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 103 | |
| FL | 73 | |
| CA | 59 | |
| OH | 55 | |
| PA | 46 | |
| IL | 43 | |
| NY | 41 | |
| NC | 32 | |
| GA | 31 | |
| IN | 29 | |
| TN | 29 | |
| NJ | 27 | |
| VA | 25 | |
| MA | 20 | |
| MO | 19 |
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 Kendall.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 985 |
| 2023 | 981 |
| 2022 | 1,061 |
| 2021 | 1,046 |
| 2020 | 1,019 |
| 2019 | 1,215 |
| 2018 | 1,213 |
| 2017 | 1,398 |
| 2016 | 1,703 |
| 2015 | 2,199 |
| 2014 | 2,442 |
| 2013 | 2,518 |
| 2012 | 2,625 |
| 2011 | 2,595 |
| 2010 | 2,342 |
| 2009 | 2,415 |
| 2008 | 2,310 |
| 2007 | 2,166 |
| 2006 | 2,324 |
| 2005 | 2,457 |
| 2004 | 2,360 |
| 2003 | 2,183 |
| 2002 | 1,643 |
| 2001 | 1,524 |
| 2000 | 1,651 |
| 1999 | 1,442 |
| 1998 | 1,645 |
| 1997 | 1,559 |
| 1996 | 1,468 |
| 1995 | 1,546 |
| 1994 | 1,648 |
| 1993 | 1,271 |
| 1992 | 746 |
| 1991 | 668 |
| 1990 | 642 |
| 1989 | 624 |
| 1988 | 572 |
| 1987 | 702 |
| 1986 | 510 |
| 1985 | 447 |
| 1984 | 471 |
| 1983 | 247 |
| 1982 | 278 |
| 1981 | 196 |
| 1980 | 190 |
| 1979 | 97 |
| 1978 | 113 |
| 1977 | 81 |
| 1976 | 72 |
| 1975 | 70 |
| 1974 | 98 |
| 1973 | 111 |
| 1972 | 114 |
| 1971 | 200 |
| 1970 | 112 |
| 1969 | 74 |
| 1968 | 89 |
| 1967 | 88 |
| 1966 | 89 |
| 1965 | 122 |
| 1964 | 120 |
| 1963 | 67 |
| 1962 | 66 |
| 1961 | 67 |
| 1960 | 109 |
| 1959 | 75 |
| 1958 | 70 |
| 1957 | 34 |
| 1956 | 31 |
| 1955 | 12 |
| 1954 | 14 |
| 1953 | 7 |
| 1952 | 13 |
| 1951 | 10 |
| 1950 | 13 |
| 1949 | 11 |
| 1948 | 12 |
| 1947 | 18 |
| 1945 | 15 |
| 1944 | 7 |
| 1943 | 14 |
| 1942 | 7 |
| 1941 | 7 |
| 1940 | 5 |
| 1937 | 7 |
| 1929 | 5 |