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Kingston

♂ Boy

Pronounced KING-ston /ˈkɪŋ.stən/High

Meaning: King's town; royal settlement — from Old English <em>cyning</em> (king) and <em>tūn</em> (settlement)High

In 30 seconds: A bold English place name meaning 'king's town,' Kingston packs regal authority into two syllables. Celebrity parents (Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale named their son Kingston in 2006) catapulted it onto U.S. baby charts.
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Origin HighEnglish
MeaningKing's town; royal settlement — from Old English <em>cyning</em> (king) and <em>tūn</em> (settlement)
Peak year2016
Total births (all-time)≈ 23,728

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201619192017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Kingston is an English place name and surname composed of Old English cyning (king) and tūn (town, settlement), meaning 'the king's settlement.' There are numerous towns called Kingston across England, most notably Kingston upon Thames in Surrey, a royal borough with ancient coronation associations.

As a given name, Kingston gained rapid traction after Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale named their son Kingston James McGregor Rossdale in 2006. It entered the U.S. top 200 boys' names shortly after and has climbed steadily, now ranking in the top 100. It fits the trend for powerful, surname-style names with built-in meaning.

Did you know? Kingston upon Thames, near London, is historically significant as the place where at least seven Anglo-Saxon kings were crowned — the 'Coronation Stone' is still displayed there today.

Variations

KingsleyKing

Nicknames

KingKin

Famous Bearers

  • ★Kingston Rossdale (b. 2006)
    Son of musicians Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale; his naming widely influenced the name's rise.

If you like Kingston…

Hunter— similarly strong, one-concept name with a powerful feel

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kingston mean?

Kingston means 'king's town' or 'royal settlement' from the Old English words for 'king' and 'town.'

How do you pronounce Kingston?

Kingston is pronounced KING-ston /ˈkɪŋ.stən/ — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Kingston a boy or girl name?

Kingston is used predominantly as a boy's name.

How popular is Kingston?

Kingston has been climbing U.S. charts since 2006 and now ranks in the top 100 boys' names.