Kent
Boy name · #1656 in 2025 · Very rare
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. 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?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Kent is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". 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
State-level data for Kent is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very 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.