Kingsley Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KINGZ-lee //ˈkɪŋzli//
Origin: English; Old English
Meaning: English: King's meadow; Old English: royal field
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Kingsley has its roots in Old English, deriving from the elements "cyning," meaning "king," and "leah," which translates to "clearing" or "meadow." This etymological combination suggests a meaning akin to "king's meadow" or "clearing of the king." The name emerged in England during the Anglo-Saxon period and was used as both a surname and a given name, reflecting the feudal system where land and titles were closely associated with nobility and royalty. Historically, Kingsley can be traced back to various notable figures and places in England.
One significant milestone is its association with the village of Kingsley in Cheshire, which dates back to the early medieval period. The name gained further prominence through the 19th-century English author Charles Kingsley, known for his works such as "The Water-Babies" and "Westward Ho!" His literary contributions helped to cement the name in cultural memory, linking it to themes of morality, nature, and social reform.
Culturally, the name Kingsley resonates with notions of leadership and nobility, reflecting its royal connotations. The idea of a "king's meadow" evokes imagery of pastoral beauty and tranquility, which has been a recurring theme in English literature and art.
The name has also been associated with various places and institutions, reinforcing its historical significance. While diminutive forms like "King" may arise in informal contexts, the full name Kingsley carries a weight of heritage that connects it to both the natural landscape and the legacy of leadership in English history.
Famous people named Kingsley
In this section, you will find notable people named Kingsley. 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 Kingsley who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Kingsley 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.
Kingsley Amis is a novelist best known for Lucky Jim, The Old Devils, and The Green Man.
Fictional characters named Kingsley
The following list of fictional characters named Kingsley 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.
Kingsley Shacklebolt is a fictional character from the book series Harry Potter. He is a skilled Auror and a member of the Order of the Phoenix who plays a significant role in the fight against Voldemort.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Kingsley, 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 Kingsley. 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 Kingsley was first seen in the United States in 1907.
Kingsley has ranked as high as #913 nationally, which occurred in 2020, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Georgia.
In the past 5 years the name Kingsley has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Kingsley 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 Kingsley 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 Kingsley.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 315 | 196 | 119 |
| 2024 | 352 | 229 | 123 |
| 2023 | 447 | 286 | 161 |
| 2022 | 552 | 350 | 202 |
| 2021 | 602 | 376 | 226 |
| 2020 | 667 | 429 | 238 |
| 2019 | 535 | 418 | 117 |
| 2018 | 506 | 403 | 103 |
| 2017 | 541 | 394 | 147 |
| 2016 | 599 | 473 | 126 |
| 2015 | 442 | 323 | 119 |
| 2014 | 384 | 309 | 75 |
| 2013 | 269 | 220 | 49 |
| 2012 | 299 | 244 | 55 |
| 2011 | 229 | 196 | 33 |
| 2010 | 247 | 201 | 46 |
| 2009 | 125 | 87 | 38 |
| 2008 | 103 | 69 | 34 |
| 2007 | 70 | 43 | 27 |
| 2006 | 56 | 39 | 17 |
| 2005 | 43 | 30 | 13 |
| 2004 | 27 | 17 | 10 |
| 2003 | 32 | 26 | 6 |
| 2002 | 49 | 40 | 9 |
| 2001 | 36 | 26 | 10 |
| 2000 | 34 | 34 | 0 |
| 1999 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1998 | 43 | 38 | 5 |
| 1997 | 32 | 23 | 9 |
| 1996 | 32 | 26 | 6 |
| 1995 | 32 | 27 | 5 |
| 1994 | 38 | 32 | 6 |
| 1993 | 31 | 31 | 0 |
| 1992 | 36 | 36 | 0 |
| 1991 | 28 | 23 | 5 |
| 1990 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 1989 | 31 | 31 | 0 |
| 1988 | 32 | 26 | 6 |
| 1987 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 1986 | 36 | 27 | 9 |
| 1985 | 29 | 29 | 0 |
| 1984 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 1983 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 1982 | 35 | 29 | 6 |
| 1981 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1980 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1979 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1978 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1977 | 25 | 20 | 5 |
| 1976 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1975 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1974 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1973 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1972 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1971 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1970 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1969 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1968 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1967 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1966 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1965 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1964 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1963 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1962 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1961 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1960 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1959 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1958 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1957 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1956 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1955 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1954 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1953 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1952 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1951 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1950 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1949 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1948 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1947 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1946 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1945 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1944 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1943 | 25 | 25 | 0 |
| 1942 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1941 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1940 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1939 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1938 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1937 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1936 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1935 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1934 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1932 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1931 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1930 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1929 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1928 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1927 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1926 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1925 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1924 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1923 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1922 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1921 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1920 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1919 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1918 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1917 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1916 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1915 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1914 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1913 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1912 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1907 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
Top States for Kingsley (2024)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 43 | |
| TX | 34 | |
| NY | 27 | |
| FL | 20 | |
| NC | 12 | |
| TN | 9 | |
| NJ | 8 | |
| HI | 7 | |
| MA | 6 | |
| MD | 6 | |
| UT | 6 | |
| MI | 6 | |
| GA | 6 | |
| KY | 6 | |
| OK | 6 | |
| WA | 6 | |
| LA | 5 | |
| SC | 5 | |
| VA | 5 | |
| IN | 5 | |
| OR | 5 |