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Bently

♂ Boy

Pronounced BENT-lee /ˈbɛnt.li/High

Meaning: Variant spelling of Bentley, from Old English beonet (bent grass) and leah (clearing, meadow, woodland), meaning 'clearing with bent grass'High

In 30 seconds: Bently is a variant spelling of Bentley, an Old English surname and place name meaning bent grass clearing. It crossed into given-name use in the United States during the 21st century, riding a wave of surname-style boys names.
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Origin HighOld English
MeaningVariant spelling of Bentley, from Old English beonet (bent grass) and leah (clearing, meadow, woodland), meaning 'clearing with bent grass'
U.S. rank (2024)#3098 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births39 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2011
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,424

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201119152024

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

History & Origin

Bently is a spelling variant of Bentley, which derives from Old English beonet (bent grass, a type of grass, Agrostis) and leah (clearing, meadow). Multiple English villages named Bentley gave rise to the surname, which spread widely through England from the Middle Ages onward.

As a given name, Bentley and its variant Bently began appearing on U.S. birth records in notable numbers in the 2000s and 2010s, part of the trend toward English place-name and surname-style boys names. The luxury car association and the -ley ending popular in American names both boosted its use. Bently is the less common spelling but is found regularly.

Did you know? The Bentley Motors luxury car brand — founded in 1919 by W.O. Bentley — has added a prestige association to the name, likely contributing to its appeal as a modern given name alongside the broader trend of English surname names for boys.
Overall data confidence 88%
Behind the Name — Bentley — Old English etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — Popularity data for Bentley and variants

Variations

BentleyBentle

Nicknames

BentBen

Famous Bearers

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If you like Bently…

Bentley— the standard spelling of the same name
Bradley— Old English surname boys name with -ley ending of similar feel
Brantley— modern American surname-style boys name with the same -ley ending
Hadley— English -ley surname name popular in contemporary American use

Frequently Asked

What does the name Bently mean?

Bently means bent grass clearing or meadow with bent grass, from Old English beonet (bent grass) and leah (clearing, meadow). It is a spelling variant of Bentley.

How do you pronounce Bently?

It is said BENT-lee, with two syllables and stress on the first.

Is Bently a boy or girl name?

Bently is primarily used as a boy's name, following the broader Bentley trend in American naming.

How popular is Bently?

The spelling Bently is less common than Bentley. Bentley has ranked in the U.S. top 100 boys names; Bently appears on charts but at lower frequency.