Kinsley Girl

Popularity: #90 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KINZ-lee //ˈkɪnzli//

Origin: English; Irish

Meaning: English: King's meadow; Irish: Descendant of the king

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Kinsley has its roots in Old English, derived from the elements "cyning," meaning "king," and "leah," meaning "woodland" or "clearing." This etymology suggests a literal meaning of "king's meadow" or "king's clearing." The name likely evolved through various forms in the English language, with its earliest usages appearing in medieval England. The transition into a more recognizable form occurred as surnames began to be used as given names, particularly during the 19th century, when the trend of using surnames as first names gained traction in English-speaking cultures.

Historically, the name Kinsley does not have prominent figures associated with it in the same way as more traditional names. However, it can be noted that the practice of adopting surnames as first names often reflects social changes, including the rise of the middle class and the desire for unique identifiers.

The name's emergence in the 20th century aligns with a broader cultural shift towards more creative and individualized naming practices, particularly in the United States. Culturally, Kinsley embodies a modern sensibility that resonates with themes of nature and nobility, reflecting a connection to the pastoral and royal imagery inherent in its etymology.

The name's appeal may also be enhanced by its phonetic qualities, which align with contemporary naming trends favoring softer, more lyrical sounds. While diminutive forms or variations such as Kinsey exist, Kinsley stands as a distinct name that encapsulates both historical roots and modern influences.

Famous people named Kinsley

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

We also feature individuals named Kinsley 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.

Kinsley Amis was a novelist best known for Lucky Jim, The Old Devils, and The Letters of Kingsley Amis.

Kinsley S. M. is a writer and editor best known for contributions to various literary magazines and anthologies.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Kinsley, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

KylieKinseyKiraKendraKaitlyn

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Kinsley. 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.

KylieKendraKinseyKaitlynKira

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Kinsley was first seen in the United States in 1978.

Kinsley has ranked as high as #160 nationally, which occurred in 2017, and has been most popular in Texas, Florida, Georgia, California, and North Carolina.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Kinsley 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 Kinsley 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 Kinsley.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 2,683 12 2,671
2024 2,948 11 2,937
2023 3,210 6 3,204
2022 3,721 16 3,705
2021 3,899 14 3,885
2020 3,796 16 3,780
2019 3,521 11 3,510
2018 3,893 12 3,881
2017 4,066 13 4,053
2016 3,378 0 3,378
2015 2,795 7 2,788
2014 2,456 8 2,448
2013 1,992 11 1,981
2012 1,768 8 1,760
2011 1,466 5 1,461
2010 1,055 9 1,046
2009 743 0 743
2008 553 6 547
2007 386 0 386
2006 306 5 301
2005 262 0 262
2004 186 0 186
2003 170 0 170
2002 155 5 150
2001 135 5 130
2000 110 0 110
1999 81 0 81
1998 63 0 63
1997 80 9 71
1996 35 0 35
1995 48 5 43
1994 44 5 39
1993 23 0 23
1992 28 0 28
1991 24 0 24
1990 18 0 18
1989 21 0 21
1988 12 0 12
1987 24 5 19
1986 8 0 8
1985 15 0 15
1984 13 6 7
1983 13 6 7
1982 14 6 8
1981 11 5 6
1980 7 0 7
1978 8 0 8

Top States for Kinsley (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
TX 221
8%
CA 167
6%
FL 156
5%
PA 142
5%
NC 139
5%
OH 123
4%
GA 119
4%
NY 118
4%
MI 113
4%
TN 106
4%
MO 92
3%
WA 82
3%
IN 81
3%
WI 78
3%
KY 75
3%
IL 73
2%
VA 71
2%
MN 69
2%
SC 63
2%
MD 56
2%
AL 53
2%
LA 52
2%
MS 51
2%
AZ 49
2%
CO 48
2%
IA 41
1%
WV 41
1%
OR 40
1%
OK 39
1%
AR 37
1%
KS 36
1%
MA 33
1%
NJ 27
1%
NE 22
1%
ID 22
1%
SD 20
1%
NV 19
1%
CT 19
1%
NM 18
1%
UT 18
1%
NH 17
1%
ME 16
1%
MT 15
1%
ND 14
0%
AK 8
0%
WY 8
0%
VT 7
0%
HI 7
0%