Declining since 2011, #3,067 for girls today.
Popularity of Kinsey since 1968
Babies named Kinsey per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 87 |
| 1980s | 674 |
| 1990s | 1,976 |
| 2000s | 2,514 |
| 2010s | 2,001 |
| 2020s | 561 |
Meaning & origin
Kinsey is a modern given name that originated as a surname, and in the late 20th century it transitioned into use as a first name. Its peak popularity occurred in 2011, when it ranked 3067th among U.S. births, and it has since been on a declining trajectory. The name is predominantly given to girls, with about 1 in every 30,326 newborns receiving the name in 2025. While not recorded before 1968, Kinsey has carved out a niche as a stylish surname-turned-first-name, often associated with the independent and spirited image of its most prominent namesake, though that association is not universally known.
Kinsey is derived from an English surname, which may be a variant of Kensey, a place name in Cornwall. The surname likely originated from a location name, possibly meaning 'belonging to Kyn(e)'s island' from the Old English personal name Cyne and ēg 'island'. As a given name, Kinsey emerged in the late 20th century, possibly influenced by the Kinsey surname of famed sex researcher Alfred Kinsey.
Where Kinsey 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.
“Kinsey” around the world
Where Kinsey 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: Kin, Kins
Sibling names for Kinsey
Names that share Kinsey's style, for a brother or sister.
