Kentae
An anglicized spelling of the Korean name Gyeon-tae, meaning "humble large man".
Name Census estimates that about 25 living Americans carry the first name Kentae. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Kentae today is around 29 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kentae births was 1994 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kentae. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Kentae. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
25
~ 1 in 13,710,174 Americans
Peak year
1994
6 babies that year
Average age
29
years old
2013 SSA rank
#13,154
Tracked since 1978
Popularity
Kentae: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kentae from the 1970s through to the 2010s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 11 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1990s peak, Kentae remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kentae 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 Kentae during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Kentae
The given name Kentae has its origins in ancient Korea, where it was derived from the Korean word "geun-tae," meaning "great foundation" or "solid foundation." The name first appeared around the 7th century AD during the Silla Dynasty, a prominent kingdom in the Korean peninsula.
Kentae was a popular name among the nobility and ruling class of the Silla Dynasty, as it symbolized strength, stability, and the desire for a prosperous and enduring legacy. It was often given to sons born into prominent families, with the hope that they would become great leaders and contribute to the kingdom's prosperity.
The earliest recorded mention of the name Kentae can be found in the Samguk Sagi, a historical text compiled in 1145 AD, which chronicles the history of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. One notable figure named Kentae was a renowned general who served under King Munjong during the 7th century. He was celebrated for his military prowess and tactical brilliance in defending the kingdom against invaders.
Another prominent individual named Kentae was a Buddhist monk who lived during the 8th century. He is recognized for his contributions to the spread of Buddhism in Korea and for founding several temples, including the famous Haeinsa Temple, which is known for housing the Tripitaka Koreana, one of the most complete collections of Buddhist scriptures in the world.
In the realm of arts and culture, Kentae was the name of a renowned calligrapher and poet who lived during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392 AD). His works were highly regarded for their elegance and artistic merit, and he is considered one of the greatest calligraphers in Korean history.
During the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897 AD), a scholar-official named Kentae gained recognition for his contributions to the development of Korean literature and his expertise in the Confucian classics. He served as a high-ranking government official and was respected for his wisdom and intellectual prowess.
Another notable figure with the name Kentae was a prominent businessman and philanthropist who lived in the early 20th century. He founded several successful companies and contributed significantly to the economic development of Korea. He is also remembered for his charitable works and support for educational initiatives.
People
Kentae + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kentae 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
Kentae: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kentae?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 25 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kentae 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 13,710,174 US residents.
Is Kentae a common name?
We classify Kentae as "Very Rare". It ranks above 43.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 26 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kentae most popular?
The single biggest year for Kentae was 1994, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kentae is about 29 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Kentae in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kentae a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kentae 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.
Is Kentae still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kentae in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Kentae can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Kentae?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.