Declining since 2019, #1,095 for boys today.
Popularity of Kingsley since 1907
Babies named Kingsley per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0 | 7 |
| 1910s | 0 | 97 |
| 1920s | 0 | 101 |
| 1930s | 0 | 81 |
| 1940s | 0 | 129 |
| 1950s | 0 | 101 |
| 1960s | 0 | 75 |
| 1970s | 5 | 128 |
| 1980s | 21 | 249 |
| 1990s | 36 | 283 |
| 2000s | 164 | 411 |
| 2010s | 870 | 3,181 |
| 2020s | 1,069 | 1,866 |
Meaning & origin
Kingsley has been in use as a given name since at least 1907, when it first appeared on U.S. records. The name reached its peak popularity in 2016 (ranked as high as 1095 that year according to data, though overall peak occurred later in the 2010s). Since 2019, however, its usage has been falling, reflecting a shift away from surname-style first names. Geographically, Kingsley sees above-average use in Maryland, Indiana, and Minnesota, suggesting regional preferences for this English-origin name. With a current 1-in-8715 frequency, Kingsley remains an uncommon but recognizable choice.
Kingsley originates as an English surname derived from Old English 'cyning' (king) and 'lēah' (wood, clearing). It first appeared as a given name in the 19th century, influenced by the surname of novelist Charles Kingsley. The name gained modest popularity in the 20th century and has been used for both boys and girls.
Where Kingsley is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Kingsley” around the world
Where Kingsley lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
120
babies in 2024
New Zealand
11
babies in 2025
Quebec
5
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: King, Lee
Sibling names for Kingsley
Names that share Kingsley's style, for a brother or sister.
