Kent

At a Glance

Meaning

Border, rim, or edge

Origin

Brythonic Celtic (English place name/surname)

Gender

Used for both boys and girls

Pronunciation

KENTListen

Kent comes from a Brythonic Celtic place name and surname, and it means "border, rim, or edge." You may have seen it said that Kent means "coastal land," but the Proto-Celtic root (*kantos) means rim, corner, or border, not specifically coastal. The claim likely stuck because Kent, the English county, is a coastal border region. It's pronounced KENT (/kɛnt/), one short, clean syllable.

Meaning & Origin of Kent

Meaning: Border, rim, or edge.

Origin: Brythonic Celtic (English place name/surname).

A common claim: Kent means 'coastal land.' Actually: The attested Proto-Celtic root (*kantos) means 'rim/corner/border,' not specifically 'coastal' — that gloss is a popular simplification, though it may have stuck because Kent (the county) is indeed a coastal border region.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Kent

Popularity of Kent

Kent peaked at #136 in 1962, when 2,588 babies were given the name. By 2024 it had fallen to #1631 with 104 babies, so it's now a rare pick.

Names Like Kent

These names have followed a similar path to Kent in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Yvette
• Todd
• Karl
• Marlo
• Belinda
• Lori

FAQ

What does the name Kent mean?

Border, rim, or edge. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Kent?

Kent is pronounced KENT (IPA: /kɛnt/).

Is Kent a popular name right now?

Kent peaked at #136 in 1962 and is ranked #1631 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1885–2024.)

Make Kent Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Kent, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.