Home › Baby Names Directory › Kenton

Kenton

♂ Boy

Pronounced KEHN-tuhn /ˈkɛn.tən/Medium

Meaning: Town on the River KennMedium

In 30 seconds: Kenton is an English name meaning 'town on the River Kenn'.
💕 Browse more names
Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningTown on the River Kenn
U.S. rank (2024)#2117 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births70 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2014
Total births (all-time)≈ 11,187

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201419122024

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

History & Origin

Kenton began as an English place name, literally a 'town on the River Kenn', before it moved into use as a personal name. Like many English names of this kind, it crossed from geography to surname and eventually to first name. The meaning keeps a grounded, local sense of a settlement by the water.

American actor and dancer Kenton Duty, known for the Disney series 'Shake It Up', is a recognizable bearer. The familiar Ken- opening links it in sound to names like Kenneth.

Did you know? Kenton likely reached first-name use through a surname or place-name route, which gives it that modern borrowed-from-history feel.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Kenton — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

—

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

  • ★Kenton Duty (1995–present)
    American actor and dancer, known for the Disney series 'Shake It Up'.

If you like Kenton…

Kenneth— Shares the Ken- opening that Kenton echoes.
Trenton— Another English place-and-surname name ending in -ton.
Kenny— A short form sharing the same opening sound.
Ashton— A comparable English -ton place name turned first name.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kenton mean?

Kenton is usually explained as meaning 'town on the River Kenn' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Kenton?

It's commonly said KEHN-tuhn /ˈkɛn.tən/.

Is Kenton a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Kenton is used as a boy name.

How popular is Kenton?

In 2024, Kenton ranked #2117 in the U.S. for boys, with 70 births recorded.