Kent
Inherited from Middle English Kent, from Old English Cent, from Latin Cantium, from Brythonic *Cantio (compare Old Irish céite (“gathering, folkmoot, hillock”)), from…
Every Kent since 1885 — 69,493 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Kent
Kent is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #1,659 in 2025 with 101 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1885, 69,493 American babies have been named Kent. Its peak came in 1962, when 2,592 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1960s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Kent stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Kent year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 101 | #1,659 |
| 2024 | — | — | 104 | #1,636 |
| 2023 | — | — | 102 | #1,676 |
| 2022 | — | — | 116 | #1,545 |
| 2021 | — | — | 130 | #1,415 |
| 2020 | — | — | 121 | #1,432 |
| 2019 | — | — | 122 | #1,438 |
| 2018 | — | — | 157 | #1,201 |
| 2017 | — | — | 140 | #1,297 |
| 2016 | — | — | 164 | #1,164 |
| 2015 | — | — | 157 | #1,184 |
| 2014 | — | — | 149 | #1,227 |
| 2013 | — | — | 161 | #1,132 |
| 2012 | — | — | 114 | #1,453 |
| 2011 | — | — | 132 | #1,300 |
| 2010 | — | — | 129 | #1,329 |
| 2009 | — | — | 122 | #1,400 |
| 2008 | — | — | 140 | #1,246 |
| 2007 | — | — | 148 | #1,191 |
| 2006 | — | — | 139 | #1,209 |
| 2005 | — | — | 154 | #1,074 |
| 2004 | — | — | 159 | #1,032 |
| 2003 | — | — | 192 | #883 |
| 2002 | — | — | 169 | #950 |
| 2001 | — | — | 177 | #895 |
| 2000 | — | — | 215 | #774 |
| 1995 | — | — | 227 | #705 |
| 1990 | — | — | 394 | #488 |
| 1985 | — | — | 532 | #350 |
| 1980 | — | — | 497 | #357 |
| 1975 | — | — | 501 | #341 |
| 1970 | 6 | #7,485 | 1,153 | #216 |
| 1965 | 8 | #5,046 | 1,846 | #161 |
| 1960 | 6 | #6,018 | 2,397 | #148 |
| 1955 | 6 | #5,512 | 1,856 | #156 |
| 1950 | — | — | 1,233 | #180 |
| 1945 | — | — | 715 | #202 |
| 1940 | — | — | 578 | #216 |
| 1935 | — | — | 351 | #290 |
| 1930 | — | — | 166 | #460 |
| 1925 | — | — | 121 | #563 |
| 1920 | — | — | 91 | #670 |
| 1915 | — | — | 46 | #921 |
| 1910 | — | — | 11 | #1,014 |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | 5 | #1,412 |
| 1895 | — | — | 6 | #1,032 |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | 5 | #1,020 |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Kent
- Kent Karlsson Soccer player · b. 1945
- Kent Beck Computer scientist · b. 1961
- Kent Nielsen Coach · b. 1961
- Kent Conrad Politician · b. 1948
- Kent Robin Tønnesen Handball player · b. 1991
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kent mean?
Inherited from Middle English Kent, from Old English Cent, from Latin Cantium, from Brythonic *Cantio (compare Old Irish céite (“gathering, folkmoot, hillock”)), from Proto-Celtic *kantos (“corner, rim”).
How popular is the name Kent in 2025?
Kent ranked #1,659 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 101 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Kent?
69,493 babies have been named Kent in the United States since 1885, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Kent most popular?
Kent peaked in 1962, when 2,592 newborns received the name.
Is Kent a boy or girl name?
Kent is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Kent rising or falling?
Kent is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Kent?
Well-known people named Kent include Kent Karlsson (soccer player), Kent Beck (computer scientist), Kent Nielsen (coach).