Kendon
Derived from an English surname of unknown origin and meaning.
Name Census estimates that about 890 living Americans carry the first name Kendon. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Kendon today is around 22 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kendon births was 2014 (40 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kendon. 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.
People living today
890
~ 1 in 385,117 Americans
Peak year
2014
40 babies that year
Average age
22
years old
2024 SSA rank
#7,484
Tracked since 1959
Popularity
Kendon: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kendon from the 1950s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 311 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kendon 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 Kendon during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Kendons live
Origin
Meaning and history of Kendon
The name Kendon is a unique and relatively uncommon name with its origins tracing back to Old English. It is derived from the combination of two words: "cen" meaning "bold" or "brave," and "don" meaning "hill" or "down." Together, the name Kendon can be interpreted to mean "brave hill" or "bold down."
This name has its roots in the Anglo-Saxon culture that flourished in Britain during the 5th to 11th centuries. It is likely that the name was initially used as a descriptive term for someone who lived on a prominent hill or elevated terrain, and was known for their courageous or fearless nature.
While the name Kendon does not appear to have any significant historical references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it has been recorded in various historical records and documents throughout the centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kendon can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name is listed as a place name, suggesting that it may have been derived from a location or settlement.
In the 14th century, a man named Kendon de Burleigh was mentioned in the rolls of the English Parliament, indicating that the name was in use during that time period.
Fast forward to the 16th century, a notable figure named Kendon Digby (1520-1567) was an English Jesuit priest and scholar, known for his work in theology and philosophy.
Another historical figure bearing this name was Kendon Stokes (1825-1902), a British painter and illustrator who gained recognition for his landscape paintings and illustrations for books and magazines.
In more recent history, Kendon Underwood (1914-1976) was an American author and journalist, best known for his novels and short stories set in the American West.
While the name Kendon may not be as widely recognized as some other names, it has a rich history and a unique meaning that reflects the bold and courageous spirit of those who bore it throughout the ages.
People
Kendon + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kendon as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kendon: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kendon?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 890 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kendon 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 385,117 US residents.
Is Kendon a common name?
We classify Kendon as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 908 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kendon most popular?
The single biggest year for Kendon was 2014, when 40 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kendon is about 22 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Kendon a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kendon in the SSA data are male. 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.