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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 (2025)#5060 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births19 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2011

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,443

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

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

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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 been a popular boys' name; Bently appears on charts but at lower frequency.