Find out how popular the first name Kensington has been for the last 27 years (from 1997 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Kensington by gender

Based on the last 27 years of data, Kensington is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 95% of people named Kensington being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 62 female babies and 7 male babies born with the name Kensington.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 7 baby boys were named Kensington in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Kensington

The name Kensington has its origins in the English language and is derived from the name of a district in London, England. The name Kensington itself is a combination of two Old English words, "Kenesine" meaning "a man from Kent" and "tun" meaning "settlement" or "town."

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Kensington dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was written as "Kemesitun." This suggests that the area was already established as a settlement by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

While the name Kensington is not found in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it does have historical significance as the name of a prestigious London district. The area of Kensington became a fashionable residential area for the aristocracy and wealthy during the 17th and 18th centuries.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Kensington was William Kensington (1600-1672), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Middlesex. Another early bearer of the name was Sir John Kensington (1620-1689), an English lawyer and politician who served as a judge and Member of Parliament.

In the 18th century, Sir John Kensington (1725-1802) was a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War. He rose to the rank of Admiral and was appointed a Knight of the Bath.

In the 19th century, Kensington Digby (1832-1891) was an English writer and traveler who wrote several books about his travels in Europe and Asia. He was also known for his interest in spiritualism and the occult.

Another notable figure with the name Kensington was Sir Henry Kensington (1870-1935), a British soldier and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Malta from 1924 to 1928.

While the name Kensington is not as common today as it once was, it has a rich history and is associated with the prestigious London district from which it originates.

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 Kensington was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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