Declining since 2004, #3,249 for girls today.
Popularity of Kendal since 1915
Babies named Kendal per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 0 | 5 |
| 1920s | 0 | 18 |
| 1930s | 0 | 53 |
| 1940s | 0 | 124 |
| 1950s | 68 | 284 |
| 1960s | 158 | 394 |
| 1970s | 267 | 449 |
| 1980s | 906 | 702 |
| 1990s | 1,926 | 1,154 |
| 2000s | 3,415 | 780 |
| 2010s | 2,028 | 545 |
| 2020s | 355 | 169 |
Meaning & origin
Kendal is a unisex name of English origin, derived from a place name in Cumbria. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1951, and reached its peak popularity in 2004, when it ranked 1,415th (657 births). Since then, its use has steadily declined, falling to rank 3,249th in 2025, with only 112 births that year. The name's one-in-33,485 frequency makes it uncommon but not rare. Texas has been its top state, reflecting a slight regional preference. Kendal fits a pattern of habitational surnames turned given names, sitting alongside more popular Kendall.
Kendal derives from the Old Norse 'Kendal', a place name meaning 'valley of the River Kent'. It originated as a habitational surname for people from Kendal, Cumbria. As a given name, it gained limited use in the 20th century, particularly in the United States, influenced by similar-sounding names like Kendall.
Where Kendal is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Kendal” around the world
Where Kendal lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ken, Kenny, Dal
Sibling names for Kendal
Names that share Kendal's style, for a brother or sister.
