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Kinsley

♀ Girl

Pronounced KINZ-lee /ˈkɪnz.li/High

Meaning: King's meadow; from Old English cyning (king) + leah (meadow, clearing)High

In 30 seconds: A modern surname-to-first-name crossover of Old English origin meaning 'king's meadow.' It surged onto U.S. popularity charts in the 2010s as a fresh, country-chic option.
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Origin HighOld English
MeaningKing's meadow; from Old English cyning (king) + leah (meadow, clearing)
Peak year2017
Total births (all-time)≈ 22,375

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201719782017

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

History & Origin

Kinsley derives from an English place name and surname built from Old English cyning (king) and leah (meadow or woodland clearing). Similar -ley surname names have a long tradition in English.

As a given name Kinsley is a 21st-century American creation, part of a broad trend toward surname-style names for girls. It climbed rapidly into the top 100 and has become a staple of the country-chic naming style.

Did you know? Kinsley entered the U.S. top 100 girls' names for the first time around 2015, making it one of the fastest-rising names of that decade.

Variations

KinsleeKinsleighKinzlee

Nicknames

KinsKinny

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Kinsley…

Paisley— trendy -ley surname name with the same Southern country feel
Hadley— another modern surname-style girls' name with a similar rhythm
Presley— surname name with the same modern sparkle and pop-culture edge

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kinsley mean?

Kinsley is derived from Old English, meaning 'king's meadow,' from cyning (king) and leah (meadow or clearing).

How do you pronounce Kinsley?

It is said KINZ-lee /ˈkɪnz.li/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Kinsley a boy or girl name?

Kinsley is used predominantly as a girl's name in the United States.

How popular is Kinsley?

Kinsley entered the U.S. top 100 girls' names around 2015 and has been climbing steadily since.