Kendal is a unisex given name of English origin, derived from the Old Norse word "kendill" which means "bold warrior". The name Kendal is associated with the historic market town of Kendal in Cumbria, England, and has been used as a given name since at least the 19th century. It is also sometimes used as a surname.
The name Kendal gained popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century and has remained relatively popular ever since. According to data from the Social Security Administration, Kendal ranked among the top 1,000 most popular boys' names in the US between 1970 and 2007, and among the top 1,000 most popular girls' names between 1988 and 2007.
Overall, Kendal is a strong and distinctive name with a rich history dating back to medieval England. Its meaning of "bold warrior" adds to its appeal as a name that conveys confidence and strength. Whether used as a given name or surname, Kendal is sure to stand out and make an impression.
The name Kendal has seen a varied trend in popularity over the past seven decades in the United States. In the early 1950s, it started with a consistent five births per year from 1951 to 1954. However, the number began to fluctuate more significantly from 1956 onwards, ranging from ten to nineteen births annually until 1964.
The name Kendal reached its first peak in popularity during the early 1970s, with 35 births recorded in 1970 and a further increase to 44 births in 1971. This trend continued through the mid-1970s before declining again towards the end of the decade.
The late 1980s and early 1990s marked another significant rise in popularity for Kendal, with over a hundred births recorded each year between 1986 and 1993. This period saw the highest number of Kendals born in any given year, reaching 225 births in 1993.
However, this trend began to decline again towards the end of the 1990s, with fewer than 250 births recorded each year from 1997 onwards. This downward trend continued throughout the early 2000s, reaching its lowest point in recent years with only 55 births recorded in 2023.
Overall, Kendal has been a relatively uncommon name in the United States, with a total of 9030 births recorded over the past seven decades. While it has seen periods of increased popularity, such as in the early 1970s and late 1980s to early 1990s, its overall trend has been one of steady decline since its initial appearance in the 1950s.