US Popularity Rank: 3529

Origin: Celtic

Meaning: Fair, handsome; Born of fire; Coastal district; Rim, corner, edge

Kent is a boy's name of Celtic, Irish, and Old English origin with pride of place on England's South East coast. Kent follows a trail through British Celtic, Latin, and Greek roots to Kantion, meaning “coastal district,” from an element meaning “rim,” “corner,” or “edge.” Since its early utterances by the ancient Celtic tribe who first claimed its coastal location in England, the name has endured, gracing the tongues of many civilizations. From the Latin cantus to its adoption as a surname, Kent has lingered on the periphery of many minds over the centuries. Kent is also thought to be an Anglicization of the Irish name Cináed, meaning “born of fire,” and Coinneach, meaning “handsome” or “fair.” Today Kent remains a place of great beauty, whose borders contain traces of incredible eras gone by.