Kendall
Meaning of Kendall
Kendall (KEN-dul) began as an Old English place-surname meaning “valley of the River Kent,” so it carries the quiet picture of emerald hills dipping toward clear water in England’s Lake District. Over the years that sturdy landscape name migrated west, swapped its hiking boots for high-tops, and blossomed into a lively first name for girls. In the United States it tiptoed onto the popularity charts in the 1970s, climbed briskly through the 1990s and early 2000s, and now cruises comfortably in the mid-200s—familiar enough to feel friendly, uncommon enough to stay distinctive. Pop-culture adds a dash of runway sparkle thanks to Kendall Jenner, yet the name still holds a woodsy, unpretentious charm that suits bookworms, athletes, and budding artists alike. With its mix of gentle consonants and brisk rhythm, Kendall balances strength and grace—much like a child who can skip rocks one minute and ace a science fair the next—making it a quietly inspiring pick for parents who want a modern classic with roots that run deep.
Pronunciation
British English
- Pronunced as KEN-dul (/ˈkɛnd(ə)l/)
American English
- Pronunced as KEN-dul (/ˈkɛndəl/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Kendall
| Kendall Jenner is an American model, socialite, and media personality who rose to fame on Keeping Up with the Kardashians and now stars in The Kardashians. |
| Kendall Coyne Schofield is an American ice hockey captain for the Minnesota Frost and Team USA, an Olympic gold medalist and six time world champion, and winner of the 2016 Patty Kazmaier and 2017 NCAA Todays Top 10 awards. |
| Kendall Fuller is an American cornerback drafted by Washington in 2016 after starring at Virginia Tech who sealed the Chiefs Super Bowl LIV victory with an interception. |
| Kendall Marshall is an American basketball coach and former pro player from Virginia who starred at North Carolina and was the 13th pick by the Phoenix Suns in the 2012 NBA draft. |
| Kendall Hinton is a wide receiver who played quarterback and receiver at Wake Forest, signed with the Denver Broncos in 2020, and became the first non quarterback since 1965 to take significant NFL snaps at quarterback when he filled in during a COVID outbreak. |
| Kendall Schmidt is an American singer songwriter producer and actor best known as Kendall Knight on Big Time Rush and for appearances on shows like ER and Gilmore Girls. |
| Kendall Arkel Langford is a former NFL defensive end drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2008 from Hampton University who later played for the Rams, Colts, Saints, and Texans. |
| Kendall Ryan is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling American author of romance and romantic comedies, with more than two dozen novels and over two million copies sold, including the Love By Design series. |
| Kendall Ellis is an American sprinter and Olympic gold medalist who earned relay gold and bronze at Tokyo, World Championships relay golds, and Pan Am junior medals. |
| Kendall Thomas Brown is an American professional basketball player for the Long Island Nets in the NBA G League, a former Baylor Bear and consensus five star small forward in the 2021 class. |
| Kendall Lamont Anthony is an American professional basketball player for Elan Bearnais Pau-Orthez in the French Pro A who played at the University of Richmond and has competed in Turkey, the Czech Republic, Brazil, Iceland, France, and Israel. |
| Kendall Smith - Kendall A. Smith is an American medical scientist and Weill Cornell Medicine Professor Emeritus whose interleukin research helped shape modern treatments for immune disorders, transplant rejection, infections, and cancer. |
| Kendall Gail Ryan is an American professional cyclist for L39ION of Los Angeles who raced at the 2014 UCI Road World Championships and is the sister of fellow cyclist Alexis Ryan. |
| Kendall James is an American former NFL cornerback, a 2014 sixth-round Minnesota Vikings pick who played college football at Maine. |
| Kendall Daniel Milton is an American professional running back for the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL who played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs. |
