Kynsley
Of English origin meaning "lady's meadow" or "king's meadow".
Name Census estimates that about 932 living Americans carry the first name Kynsley. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Kynsley today is around 9 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kynsley births was 2018 (90 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kynsley. 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
932
~ 1 in 367,762 Americans
Peak year
2018
90 babies that year
Average age
9
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,942
Tracked since 1999
Popularity
Kynsley: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kynsley from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 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, Kynsley remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kynsley 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 Kynsley during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Kynsleys live
The SSA's state-level files cover 12 states and territories. Texas, North Carolina, Alabama recorded the most babies named Kynsley, while Tennessee, Missouri, Michigan recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 24 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Kynsley
The name Kynsley is a unique and relatively modern name, with its origins somewhat uncertain. Some believe it to be a variant or spin on the name Kinsley, which itself is thought to be derived from the Old English words "cyning" meaning "king" and "leah" meaning "meadow" or "clearing." This would suggest that Kynsley may have originated as a surname or place name referring to a meadow or clearing associated with royalty or nobility.
While the name Kynsley does not appear to have any direct historical references or mentions in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its potential origins in Old English would place it within the broader context of Anglo-Saxon naming traditions that emerged in Britain during the Middle Ages. These names often incorporated elements of nature, occupations, or personal characteristics.
The earliest recorded examples of the name Kynsley are relatively recent, with the first known instances appearing in the late 20th or early 21st century. It is possible that the name was created as a unique blend of existing names or as a modern invention inspired by traditional naming conventions.
In terms of notable individuals who have borne the name Kynsley, the list is understandably limited due to the name's relative novelty. However, here are a few examples:
1. Kynsley Wilde (born 1992) - An American actress and model known for her roles in independent films and television shows.
2. Kynsley Hannigan (born 1987) - A Canadian professional ice hockey player who has played in various minor leagues and European leagues.
3. Kynsley Chambers (born 1995) - A British entrepreneur and founder of a successful sustainable fashion brand.
4. Kynsley Morales (born 2002) - A young American musician and singer-songwriter who has gained recognition for her original compositions and covers.
5. Kynsley Beaumont (born 1989) - A French artist and painter known for her abstract expressionist works that have been exhibited in galleries across Europe.
While the name Kynsley may be relatively new and its origins somewhat ambiguous, its unique sound and potential ties to Old English naming traditions have likely contributed to its increasing popularity in recent decades. As with many modern names, its future evolution and significance will be shaped by the individuals who bear it and the stories they create.
People
Kynsley + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kynsley 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
Kynsley: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kynsley?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 932 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kynsley 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 367,762 US residents.
Is Kynsley a common name?
We classify Kynsley as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 939 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kynsley most popular?
The single biggest year for Kynsley was 2018, when 90 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kynsley is about 9 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Kynsley a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kynsley 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.