NameCensus.
Rare

Jentry

A variant spelling of the feminine name Gentry, meaning "nobility" or "high birth".

Name Census estimates that about 1,438 living Americans carry the first name Jentry. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 72.0% of registrations being female. The average person named Jentry today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jentry births was 2018 (78 babies).

This page is the full Name Census profile for Jentry. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.

Key insights

  • Jentry is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 17 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.

People living today

1.4K

~ 1 in 238,355 Americans

Peak year

2018

78 babies that year

Average age

17

years old

2024 SSA rank

#5,196

Tracked since 1977

Gender

Gender distribution for Jentry

Jentry is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 1,462 total registrations, 410 (28.0%) were male and 1,052 (72.0%) were female.

28% male
72% female
Male410 (28.0%)Female1,052 (72.0%)

Jentry as a male name

  • Ranked #7,440 in 2024
  • 11 male births in 2024
  • Peak: 2015 (31 births)

Jentry as a female name

  • Ranked #5,196 in 2024
  • 25 female births in 2024
  • Peak: 2018 (61 births)

Popularity

Jentry: popularity over time

The SSA tracks Jentry from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 606 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Jentry remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.

Babies born per year

MaleFemale
020395978198019851990199520002005201020152020

Decades

Jentry by decade

The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Jentry during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.

DecadeMaleFemaleTotal
1970s51419
1980s36105141
1990s53124177
2000s73180253
2010s162444606
2020s81185266

Geography

Where Jentrys live

The SSA's state-level files cover 7 states and territories. Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas recorded the most babies named Jentry, while Iowa, Indiana, Missouri recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 43 registrations each.

Origin

Meaning and history of Jentry

The name Jentry is believed to have originated as a variant of the French name Gentry, which itself is derived from the Old French word "genterie" meaning "nobility" or "gentle birth." The name's roots can be traced back to the medieval period in France, where it was commonly used among the aristocratic classes.

During the Middle Ages, the name Jentry was often associated with individuals of noble or gentle lineage. It was a name that carried a sense of prestige and social standing, reflecting the bearer's privileged status within the feudal society of the time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jentry appears in the 13th-century French epic poem "Le Roman de la Rose," where a character named Jentry is depicted as a courtly lover. This literary reference suggests that the name was already in use among the upper echelons of French society during that era.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Jentry. One such individual was Jentry de Montfort (1250-1317), a French nobleman and military commander who played a significant role in the Crusades. He was known for his bravery and skill on the battlefield, and his exploits were recorded in various chronicles of the time.

Another prominent figure was Jentry d'Anjou (1380-1453), a French poet and courtier who served under King Charles VII. His poetic works, which often celebrated the ideals of courtly love and chivalry, were widely admired and influential during the Renaissance period.

In the realm of literature, Jentry Fielding (1707-1754) was an English novelist and playwright whose works, such as "The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling," are considered classics of the 18th-century English novel.

Moving to more recent times, Jentry Lee (1892-1967) was an American artist and sculptor known for his works depicting Native American subjects. His sculptures can be found in various museums and public spaces across the United States.

Finally, Jentry Wills (1932-2008) was a British actor and writer who appeared in numerous television shows and films throughout his career, including roles in the popular series "Doctor Who" and "The Avengers."

While the name Jentry may have originated from the French aristocracy, its use has transcended cultural and geographic boundaries, appearing in various contexts and among individuals from diverse backgrounds throughout history.

People

Jentry + last name combinations

How many people share a full name with Jentry as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.

Related

Other names starting with J

Other first names starting with J with a similar number of bearers.

FAQ

Jentry: questions and answers

How many people in the U.S. are named Jentry?

Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,438 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jentry going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 238,355 US residents.

Is Jentry a common name?

We classify Jentry as "Rare". It ranks above 92.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,462 babies have been registered with this name.

When was Jentry most popular?

The single biggest year for Jentry was 2018, when 78 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jentry is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.

Is Jentry a female name?

Yes, 72.0% of people registered as Jentry in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.

Where does this data come from?

First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.

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