Given name & surname
Gentry
“woman with a high social standing”·“of good breeding; holding a high social standing”
Gentry is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “woman with a high social standing” (English) and “of good breeding; holding a high social standing” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “woman with a high social standing” (English) and “of good breeding; holding a high social standing” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1884. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Gentry through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 7,064
- 4,287 boys · 2,777 girls
- Most popular year
- 2021
- 303 babies
- 2025
- 182
- #2,025 for girls · #1,813 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −8%
- Steady
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 52% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 94 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,025 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 16.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 151 in 2018. It also appeared in 88 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (10). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,693 as a first name in 2020; 41,191 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Gentry’s family of names
Gentry has a related form in Gentrea. Gentry has a related form in Gentreah. Gentry has a related form in Gentree.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Gentry, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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