Kenton Boy

Popularity: #854 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KEN-tun //ˈkɛntən//

Origin: English; Old English

Meaning: English: town of the Kent people; Old English: royal town

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Kenton has its roots in Old English, derived from the elements "cyn" meaning "kin" or "family" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "settlement." This etymology suggests a meaning akin to "settlement of the family" or "town of kin." The name likely evolved through various forms, with early instances appearing in medieval England, where it was used as both a surname and a given name. The transition into modern English can be traced through the Norman influence on the English language, where many Old English names were adapted or altered.

Historically, Kenton appears in various records from the Middle Ages, with notable mentions in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landholdings in England. The name has been associated with several locations in England, particularly in Devon and Northumberland, which further solidified its use as a place name and subsequently as a personal name.

The name's presence in historical texts and its association with geographical locations contributed to its endurance through the centuries. Culturally, Kenton carries connotations of community and familial ties, reflecting the importance of kinship in medieval society.

The name has been used in various literary works and has appeared in different forms, including diminutives like Ken. Its historical significance is underscored by its association with the English landscape and the social structures of the time, making it a name that evokes a sense of heritage and belonging.

Famous people named Kenton

In this section, you will find notable people named Kenton. 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 Kenton who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Kenton 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.

Kenton Chen is a singer and songwriter best known for his work on The Voice and his music career.

Kenton Duty is an actor best known for his roles in Shake It Up and The Last Ship.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Kenton, 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 Kenton. 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 Kenton was first seen in the United States in 1912.

Kenton has ranked as high as #1207 nationally, which occurred in 2014, and has been most popular in California, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Pennsylvania.

In the past 5 years the name Kenton has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Kenton 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 Kenton was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Kenton (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
OH 6
29%
IN 5
24%
PA 5
24%
TX 5
24%

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 Kenton.

YearBirths
202470
202375
202296
202196
2020115
2019126
2018128
2017137
2016159
2015182
2014188
2013163
2012163
2011136
2010111
2009152
2008136
2007125
2006139
2005122
2004131
2003133
2002109
2001114
2000142
1999132
1998142
1997145
1996139
1995156
1994140
1993133
1992134
1991152
1990139
1989150
1988144
1987147
1986148
1985136
1984166
1983146
1982125
1981110
1980121
197998
1978100
197793
197682
197591
197488
197385
197283
1971116
197098
1969111
1968122
1967121
1966115
1965129
1964151
1963174
1962152
1961136
1960157
1959157
1958174
1957150
1956151
1955145
1954156
1953124
1952122
1951133
195098
194997
194881
194791
194690
194559
194467
194369
194248
194144
194035
193946
193833
193745
193642
193541
193430
193338
193241
193147
193018
192924
192830
192722
192615
192532
192424
192316
192228
192126
192022
191924
191822
191715
191614
191515
191412
191311
19128