Kingston Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Kingston is an Old English name that means 'king's town'. It evolved from its Old English roots through various historical forms. The name is associated with traits of leadership and strength, and it does not have biblical relevance. It gained popularity as a given name in the 20th century and is currently viewed positively.
The name Kingston is most popular in Hawaii, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been consistently rising. From 2020-2022, Kingston has been falling for male in MidWest, falling for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, falling for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been too falling for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, too falling for male in West. Across generations, 'Kingston' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6197th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4794th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4826th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 6919th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 4552nd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 439th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 135th out of 23106 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 16381st out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 9484th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Kingston' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Kingston"
Pronunciation
/ˈkɪŋstən/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Kingston derives from the Old English 'cyning' meaning 'king' and 'tun' meaning 'town' or 'settlement'. Therefore, it translates to 'king's town'.
Meaning
king's town
Language Evolution
Cyningestun (Old English), Kingestun (Middle English), Kingston (Modern English)
Historical Usage
Kingston has been used as a place name in England since the medieval period, gaining prominence as a given name in the 20th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Kingstun, Kinston
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Kingston is perceived as a strong and regal name, often associated with leadership and nobility.
Famous People
Kingston Rossdale, son of musician Gwen Stefani, Kingston Heath, notable sports figure
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Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Kingston"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Kingston"
"Kingston" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 6197th of 7545 | 14 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 4794th of 6773 | 29 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 4826th of 7552 | 38 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 6919th of 10718 | 28 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 4552nd of 16616 | 165 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 439th of 24088 | 9,645 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 135th of 23106 | 34,709 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 16381st of 35406 | 64 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 9484th of 30306 | 129 |
Regional Popularity of "Kingston" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
48.01% 3033rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
9.97% 457th/4582 |
13.96% 721st/5164 |
5.37% 393rd/7313 |
5.84% 436th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
3.46% 138th/3984 |
6.26% 281st/4487 |
1.29% 88th/6822 |
3.14% 197th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Kingston" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Kingston"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Kingston" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.