Kindred

Meaning & origin

Kindred is a modern word name that has seen a slow but steady rise in use since it first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1996. While it has never broken into the national rankings (its rank is null in published lists), its peak year so far is 2024, indicating growing but still niche appeal. The name is registered as unisex, and its trajectory suggests it is stable rather than a passing fad. Because it is a rare name (1-in-N is not calculable from available data), it remains a distinctive choice for parents drawn to its meaning of family and kinship. Top states for the name are not recorded due to its rarity, but it is likely used sparsely across the country rather than concentrated in any one region. Kindred fits into the broader modern trend of vocabulary names that emphasize values and human connections.

Kindred is a modern word name taken directly from the English noun kindred, which denotes a person's family or relatives, as well as a similarity or affinity between things. Its use as a given name emerged in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, part of the trend of adopting meaningful English vocabulary words as first names. The name has gained modest usage particularly in the United States, appealing to parents seeking a gender-neutral name with connotations of connection and belonging.