Kentra
A feminine name of uncertain origin and meaning, perhaps related to the word "centre".
Name Census estimates that about 31 living Americans carry the first name Kentra. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Kentra today is around 40 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kentra births was 1978 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kentra. 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 Kentra. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
31
~ 1 in 11,056,592 Americans
Peak year
1978
6 babies that year
Average age
40
years old
1996 SSA rank
#12,649
Tracked since 1978
Popularity
Kentra: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kentra from the 1970s through to the 1990s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 21 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kentra 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 Kentra 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 Kentra
The name Kentra has its roots in the ancient Gaulish language, which was spoken by the Celtic tribes that inhabited what is now modern-day France, Belgium, and parts of Germany. The name is derived from the Gaulish word "centra," which means "center" or "heart." This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who were seen as central figures or leaders within their communities.
The earliest recorded use of the name Kentra can be traced back to the 5th century CE, when it appeared in a series of inscriptions found in the region of Gaul. These inscriptions were often used to mark the graves of notable individuals or to commemorate important events.
One of the earliest known individuals to bear the name Kentra was a Gaulish chieftain who lived in the late 5th century CE. His name was recorded in the writings of a Roman historian, though few details about his life and deeds have survived.
In the 8th century CE, a monk named Kentra is believed to have lived in the monastery of Iona, located off the western coast of Scotland. He is mentioned in several historical documents as a skilled scribe and illuminator of manuscripts.
During the Middle Ages, the name Kentra gained popularity among the nobility of France and England. One notable figure was Kentra de Montfort, a French noblewoman who lived in the 12th century CE. She was known for her involvement in the political and military affairs of her time.
In the 14th century, a Scottish nobleman named Kentra Douglas played a significant role in the Wars of Scottish Independence. He fought alongside Robert the Bruce and was praised for his bravery and loyalty to the Scottish cause.
Another notable figure with the name Kentra was an Irish bard and poet who lived in the 16th century CE. Known as Kentra O'Daly, he was renowned for his intricate and lyrical compositions, which celebrated the rich culture and traditions of Ireland.
While the name Kentra has its roots in ancient Gaulish culture, it has been adopted and adapted by various cultures throughout history, lending it a rich and diverse heritage.
People
Kentra + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kentra 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
Kentra: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kentra?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 31 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kentra 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 11,056,592 US residents.
Is Kentra a common name?
We classify Kentra as "Very Rare". It ranks above 47% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 33 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kentra most popular?
The single biggest year for Kentra was 1978, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kentra is about 40 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 Kentra in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kentra a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kentra 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.
Is Kentra still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kentra 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 Kentra 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 Americans are named Kentra?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people share the name Kentra at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.