Kent
Boy name · #1656 in 2025 · Uniqueness 74/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Kent scores 74 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. 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
Geography matters for names, and Kent is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Kents were TX (10), CA (9), FL (5), IL (5), NY (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 74/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.