Given name & surname · also Old English
Kensley
Kensley is a feminine given name from Old English.
Meaning & origin
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1987. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kensley through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 9,285
- 337 boys · 8,948 girls
- Most popular year
- 2018
- 749 babies
- 2025
- 383
- #742 for girls · #5,729 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −34%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 3% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 367 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 742 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 35.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 738 in 2018. It also appeared in 16 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Georgia and Texas shared the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (35 each). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 5,914 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Kensley’s family of names
Kensley may belong to the same name family as KENNSLEY. This is a tentative spelling connection.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Kensley, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Journey
“one who likes to travel”
9% boys · 91% girls
Tinley
Tinley is a feminine given name, probably from Old English.
>99% girls
Paisley
“woman of the church” · “man of the church”
>99% girls
Tansley
“twig, branch”
>99% girls
Zaylee
“a heavenly woman”
>99% girls
Beckley
“wood, clearing”
>99% girls
Briley
Briley is a feminine given name.
7% boys · 93% girls
Brimley
“broom”
>99% girls