Find out how popular the first name Bentley has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Bentley by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Bentley is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 94% of people named Bentley being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,906 male babies and 144 female babies born with the name Bentley.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 144 baby girls were named Bentley in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Bentley

The name Bentley has its roots in the Old English language, originating from the combination of the words "beonet" meaning "bent grass" and "leah" meaning "meadow" or "clearing." This suggests that the name was initially associated with a geographical location, potentially a meadow or clearing where bent grass grew abundantly. The name can be traced back to the early medieval period in England, around the 7th to 11th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bentley appears in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of lands and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The Domesday Book mentions several places with variations of the name, such as "Benetleia" and "Benettlei," indicating the presence of individuals or families bearing the name during that era.

In the 13th century, a Benedictine monk named Nicholas de Bentley was mentioned in the records of Cirencester Abbey in Gloucestershire, England. He is believed to be one of the earliest individuals recorded with the name Bentley as a surname.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the first name Bentley. One such figure was Bentley Collingwood Woodcroft (1803-1879), an English inventor and engineer who is credited with developing the first successful rotary printing press in the 1830s.

Another prominent figure was Bentley DeForest Rotan (1850-1928), an American jurist and politician who served as a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas from 1891 to 1928.

In the literary world, Bentley Trevor Patrick (1891-1976) was an English writer and editor who worked for the Hogarth Press and was known for his collaborations with Virginia Woolf.

Bentley Kassal (1921-2015) was an American artist and sculptor renowned for his large-scale public artworks, including the iconic sculpture "Les Bourgeois de Calais" in New York City's Manhattan Plaza.

Additionally, Bentley Warren Burkard (1932-2021) was an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Burkard Family Foundation, supporting various charitable causes in education and healthcare.

While the name Bentley has its roots in Old English, it has gained popularity across various cultures and regions over time. However, its origins can be traced back to the meadows and clearings of medieval England, where the name was likely derived from the combination of words describing the natural landscape.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Bentley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Bentley, please contact us.

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