Quentin Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KWEN-tin /ˈkwɛntɪn/
Origin: Latin; French
Meaning: Latin: fifth; French: the fifth
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Quentin has its roots in the Latin name "Quintinus," which is derived from "quintus," meaning "fifth." This etymology suggests that the name was originally given to a child born as the fifth in a family or a fifth child. The name transitioned into Old French as "Quentin," which was then adopted into Middle English, maintaining its original form.
The adoption into English occurred during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, when many Latin and French names were integrated into the English lexicon. Historically, the name Quentin is associated with Saint Quentin, a Christian martyr from the 3rd century, who is believed to have been executed in what is now France.
His feast day is celebrated on October 31, and he is venerated in various Christian traditions. The name gained prominence in medieval Europe, particularly in France, where it became a common given name.
The name's association with saints and martyrs contributed to its enduring presence in Christian communities. In addition to its religious significance, the name Quentin has been borne by various notable figures throughout history, including Quentin Durward, a character in Sir Walter Scott's novel of the same name published in the 19th century.
The name has also been linked to various cultural and artistic expressions, reinforcing its resonance in literature and the arts. The diminutive form "Quin" has emerged as a related name, although it is less commonly used historically.
Overall, Quentin's etymological roots and historical associations have contributed to its lasting significance in various cultures.
Famous people named Quentin
In this section, you will find notable people named Quentin. 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 Quentin who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Quentin 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.
Quentin Tarantino is a filmmaker best known for Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, and Django Unchained.
Quentin Blake is an illustrator and author best known for his work on Roald Dahl's books, including Matilda and The BFG.
Quentin Richardson is a former professional basketball player best known for playing with the Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks.
Quentin McCracken is a former professional American football player best known for his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Fictional characters named Quentin
The following list of fictional characters named Quentin 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.
Quentin Coldwater is a fictional character from the novel series The Magicians by Lev Grossman. He is a young man who discovers that the magical world he read about as a child is real and embarks on a journey of self-discovery and adventure.
Quentin Beck is a fictional character from the Marvel Comics universe. He is a special effects artist who becomes the supervillain Mysterio, known for his illusions and deception against Spider-Man.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Quentin, 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 Quentin. 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 Quentin was first seen in the United States in 1900.
Quentin has ranked as high as #520 nationally, which occurred in 1998, and has been most popular in California, Illinois, New York, Ohio, and Texas.
In the past 5 years the name Quentin has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Quentin 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 Quentin was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Quentin (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 |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 37 | |
| TX | 23 | |
| NY | 21 | |
| OH | 17 | |
| PA | 17 | |
| MO | 15 | |
| VA | 13 | |
| FL | 12 | |
| NC | 11 | |
| MI | 10 | |
| AZ | 10 | |
| MN | 8 | |
| GA | 8 | |
| IL | 8 | |
| SD | 7 |
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 Quentin.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 318 |
| 2023 | 335 |
| 2022 | 420 |
| 2021 | 546 |
| 2020 | 528 |
| 2019 | 468 |
| 2018 | 519 |
| 2017 | 526 |
| 2016 | 635 |
| 2015 | 616 |
| 2014 | 619 |
| 2013 | 731 |
| 2012 | 629 |
| 2011 | 697 |
| 2010 | 714 |
| 2009 | 808 |
| 2008 | 811 |
| 2007 | 820 |
| 2006 | 881 |
| 2005 | 913 |
| 2004 | 913 |
| 2003 | 835 |
| 2002 | 778 |
| 2001 | 764 |
| 2000 | 872 |
| 1999 | 866 |
| 1998 | 1,052 |
| 1997 | 993 |
| 1996 | 965 |
| 1995 | 900 |
| 1994 | 718 |
| 1993 | 596 |
| 1992 | 647 |
| 1991 | 651 |
| 1990 | 729 |
| 1989 | 748 |
| 1988 | 770 |
| 1987 | 700 |
| 1986 | 633 |
| 1985 | 597 |
| 1984 | 602 |
| 1983 | 735 |
| 1982 | 639 |
| 1981 | 437 |
| 1980 | 469 |
| 1979 | 480 |
| 1978 | 467 |
| 1977 | 623 |
| 1976 | 521 |
| 1975 | 411 |
| 1974 | 337 |
| 1973 | 334 |
| 1972 | 344 |
| 1971 | 383 |
| 1970 | 412 |
| 1969 | 267 |
| 1968 | 176 |
| 1967 | 168 |
| 1966 | 160 |
| 1965 | 184 |
| 1964 | 238 |
| 1963 | 223 |
| 1962 | 139 |
| 1961 | 149 |
| 1960 | 126 |
| 1959 | 126 |
| 1958 | 137 |
| 1957 | 115 |
| 1956 | 136 |
| 1955 | 120 |
| 1954 | 132 |
| 1953 | 113 |
| 1952 | 130 |
| 1951 | 112 |
| 1950 | 121 |
| 1949 | 104 |
| 1948 | 118 |
| 1947 | 111 |
| 1946 | 118 |
| 1945 | 101 |
| 1944 | 119 |
| 1943 | 88 |
| 1942 | 109 |
| 1941 | 59 |
| 1940 | 56 |
| 1939 | 73 |
| 1938 | 61 |
| 1937 | 60 |
| 1936 | 56 |
| 1935 | 72 |
| 1934 | 69 |
| 1933 | 67 |
| 1932 | 76 |
| 1931 | 104 |
| 1930 | 108 |
| 1929 | 98 |
| 1928 | 107 |
| 1927 | 107 |
| 1926 | 104 |
| 1925 | 110 |
| 1924 | 188 |
| 1923 | 167 |
| 1922 | 161 |
| 1921 | 233 |
| 1920 | 337 |
| 1919 | 567 |
| 1918 | 480 |
| 1917 | 72 |
| 1916 | 53 |
| 1915 | 32 |
| 1914 | 28 |
| 1913 | 27 |
| 1912 | 22 |
| 1911 | 13 |
| 1910 | 13 |
| 1909 | 11 |
| 1908 | 10 |
| 1907 | 12 |
| 1905 | 8 |
| 1904 | 5 |
| 1900 | 5 |