Given name & surname
Kendal
“from the royal valley”
Kendal is a variant of Kendall. One Welsh interpretation is “from the royal valley.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Kendal is a variant of Kendall. One Welsh interpretation is “from the royal valley.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Kendal is a variant of Kendall. Kendall has been associated with Welsh and Cornish naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1915. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kendal through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 13,800
- 4,677 boys · 9,123 girls
- Most popular year
- 2004
- 657 babies
- 2025
- 60
- #3,276 for girls · #7,010 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −39%
- Cooling
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 29% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 48 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,276 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 43.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 565 in 2004. It also appeared in 12 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (8). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 12,270 as a first name in 2020; 298 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.
Kendal’s family of names
Kendal has a related form in Kendall. In English usage, Kendal as a surname has a related form in Kendell.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Kendal
- Kendal WilliamsAmerican sprinterborn 1995
- Kendal GreyAmerican professional wrestler (born 2001)
- Kendal NezanTurkish-French physicist (born 1949)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kendal, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kalei
“an attendant of the king”
27% boys · 73% girls
Kit
“having great strength”
53% boys · 47% girls
Kendyl
“from the royal valley”
5% boys · 95% girls
Shea
“of admirable character” · “from the fairy palace”
36% boys · 64% girls
Zariel
“the lion princess”
50% boys · 50% girls
McKinley
“the son of the white warrior” · “from the royal meadow”
9% boys · 91% girls
Kendle
“from the royal valley”
36% boys · 64% girls
Regan
“born into royalty; the little ruler”
20% boys · 80% girls