Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Kingsley
UnisexOld English, English· “king's wood”
- Meaning
- king's wood
- Origin
- Old English, English
- Pronunciation
- KINGZ-lee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,096
- US babies 2025
- 196
- Best rank
- #584 (2016)
- Peak year
- 2016
Meaning and origin of Kingsley
Kingsley is an Old English and English name that means “king's wood”.
Kingsley comes from an English surname based on place names meaning "king's wood" or "king's clearing," from the Old English cyning, "king," and leah, "wood" or "clearing." The Victorian novelist Charles Kingsley, author of The Water-Babies, and the later novelist Kingsley Amis are well-known bearers. As a first name Kingsley is used for both boys and girls, with a polished British sound. It appeals to parents who like the regal feel of King but want a longer, gentler form. King and Kingy are possible nicknames.
Famous parents who chose Kingsley: Ashley Greene and Paul Khoury (2022). More celebrity baby names
Popularity over time
Kingsley first appears in US Social Security records in 1907. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 15 different years, starting in 2010. Its best national rank was #584 in 2016, the same year it reached its highest count of 473 babies. In 2025, 196 babies were named Kingsley, and it ranked #1,096 nationally. That is 39% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #2,395 in 1920, #2,272 in 1950, #3,521 in 1980, #2,711 in 2000, #982 in 2010, and #1,096 in 2025. Of the 6,709 US boys named Kingsley since records began, 47% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 1,866 babies.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Arden, Kamdyn, Camdyn, Charleston, and Blayke.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Kingsley ranked highest in Maryland, Indiana, and Minnesota.
Gender, sound and spelling
Kingsley is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 28% of US babies named Kingsley were girls and 72% were boys.
Kingsley is usually pronounced KINGZ-lee, with two syllables. It has eight letters, starts with K and ends in “-ey”.
Middle names for Kingsley
A few middle names that flow with Kingsley: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Kingsley
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Lists that include Kingsley
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kingsley mean?
Kingsley is an Old English and English name that means “king's wood”.
What is the origin of the name Kingsley?
Kingsley has Old English and English roots. Kingsley comes from an English surname based on place names meaning "king's wood" or "king's clearing," from the Old English cyning, "king," and leah, "wood" or "clearing." The Victorian novelist Charles Kingsley, author of The Water-Babies, and the later novelist Kingsley Amis are well-known bearers.
Is Kingsley a popular name?
Not especially. Kingsley ranked #1,096 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Kingsley a boy or girl name?
Kingsley is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 28% of US babies named Kingsley were girls and 72% were boys.
How do you pronounce Kingsley?
Kingsley is usually pronounced KINGZ-lee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings