How to say it
KEN · dall
ˈkɛn.dəl
Unisex
Kendall
Valley of the River Kent
What it means
An English place name, 'valley of the River Kent,' from the Cumbrian town of Kendal.
Kendall is an English place and surname name meaning 'the valley of the Kent,' after the river and the town of Kendal in Cumbria. It crossed into first-name use as a sleek unisex pick and tipped strongly feminine in the 2010s with model Kendall Jenner. It reads modern, polished, and a little fashion-forward. Ken and Kenny are possible but rarely used shorts.
How to spell Kendall
The standard spelling is Kendall. Common variants include Kendal, Kendyl, Kendell, but Kendall is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
Feminine: peaked at #116 in 2012, currently #328 in 2025.
Masculine: peaked at #287 in 1993, currently #1232 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Worth knowing
Unisex by history, now leaning feminine; the town of Kendal is the origin.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Kendall Jenner American model
Spelling variants
- Kendal
- Kendyl
- Kendell
Names with the same feeling
See Kendall from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Kendall mean?
- An English place name, 'valley of the River Kent,' from the Cumbrian town of Kendal.
- What does Kendall mean in English?
- In English, Kendall means "Valley of the River Kent." Kendall is an English place and surname name meaning 'the valley of the Kent,' after the river and the town of Kendal in Cumbria. It crossed into first-name use as a sleek unisex pick and tipped strongly feminine in the 2010s with model Kendall Jenner. It reads modern, polished, and a little fashion-forward. Ken and Kenny are possible but rarely used shorts.
- How do you pronounce Kendall?
- Kendall is pronounced ˈkɛn.dəl. Say it as KEN-dall, with the stress on the "ken" syllable.
- How do you spell Kendall?
- The standard spelling is Kendall. Common spelling variants include Kendal, Kendyl, Kendell.
- Is Kendall a boy or girl name?
- Kendall is used for both boys and girls.
- How popular is the name Kendall?
- Kendall ranked #328 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.