Kent
Boy name · #1656 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Kent? In official American birth records, Kent has been tracked continuously since 1885, giving it 140 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 101 baby boys were named Kent, placing it at #1656 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1182, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 17,822 boys born in 2025 was named Kent.
Babies named Kent per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 140-year story
Kent first appears in the Social Security records in 1885, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1962, when 2,587 boys were named Kent — good for #136 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Kent against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kent in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Kent is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Kent will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Kent is most common
State-level data for Kent is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Kent
Statistically, parents drawn to Kent tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Brent, Kurt, Karl, Kirk, and Kelly.
BrentKurtKarlKirkKellyKipKerryBarry
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kent | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 101 | #1654 |
| 2024 | 104 | #1631 |
| 2023 | 102 | #1668 |
| 2022 | 116 | #1540 |
| 2021 | 130 | #1407 |
| 2020 | 121 | #1423 |
| 2019 | 122 | #1432 |
| 2018 | 157 | #1199 |
| 2017 | 140 | #1293 |
| 2016 | 164 | #1164 |
| 2015 | 157 | #1182 |
| 2014 | 149 | #1225 |
| 2013 | 161 | #1128 |
| 2012 | 114 | #1448 |
| 2011 | 132 | #1296 |
| 2010 | 129 | #1323 |
| 2009 | 122 | #1390 |
| 2008 | 140 | #1240 |
| 2007 | 148 | #1188 |
| 2006 | 139 | #1202 |
| 2005 | 154 | #1073 |
| 2004 | 159 | #1029 |
| 2003 | 192 | #883 |
| 2002 | 169 | #948 |
| 2001 | 177 | #891 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Kent?
In official American birth records, the name Kent first appeared in 1885 (over 140 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Kent a popular boy name?
Kent ranked #1656 among boys in 2025 with 101 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1182.
When was the name Kent most popular?
Kent peaked in 1962, when 2,587 American boys received the name (ranked #136 that year). Since 1962 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Kent?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 17,822 newborn American boys was named Kent. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.