UK girl's name
Kendel
A feminine name of unknown origin suggesting beauty or brightness.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1997. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kendel is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Kendel popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1997 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3824, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 1997 to 1997. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Kendel is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Kendel. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 1998 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kendel ranked #3824 for girls in England and Wales in 1997, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 3 girls were registered as Kendel.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kendel as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3824
1997
Births in 1997
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Kendel mean?
The name Kendel is believed to have originated from the Old English language, derived from the word "cyndel," which means "a torch" or "a source of light." This name likely emerged during the Anglo-Saxon period in England, which lasted from the 5th to the 11th centuries.
The name Kendel may have been initially used to describe someone who worked with torches or was associated with bringing light, either literally or metaphorically. It could have been a occupational name or a descriptive moniker given to individuals who possessed qualities of illumination or guidance.
In ancient texts and historical records, there are no significant references to the name Kendel itself. However, the root word "cyndel" can be found in Old English literature and manuscripts from that period, indicating the word's existence and usage.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Kendel dates back to the 13th century in England. A man named Kendel de Rokesle was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1268. This suggests that the name was in use, albeit likely as a surname or a locational name at that time.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the first name Kendel. One such person was Kendel Hippolyte (1825-1890), a French composer and music critic who wrote operas and works for the piano. Another was Kendel Kassierer (1886-1967), a German-born American painter and illustrator known for his depictions of urban life in New York City.
In the literary world, Kendel Crittenden (1892-1989) was an American novelist and short story writer who explored themes of rural life and the American South. Kendel Skibsrud (born 1983) is a Canadian author and academic who won the Scotiabank Giller Prize in 2010 for her novel "The Sentimentalists."
Additionally, Kendel Ehrlich (born 1959) is an American lawyer and former First Lady of Maryland, having served as the spouse of Governor Robert Ehrlich from 2003 to 2007.
While the name Kendel may not be as common as some other names, it has a rich history and a unique etymology that connects it to the concept of light and illumination in the Old English language.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Kendel by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kendel was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | #3824 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Kendel
- Katie 53,185
- Keira 14,411
- Katherine 11,323
- Kayleigh 10,677
- Kate 10,276
- Kelsey 7,224
- Kiera 7,218
- Kayla 6,541
- Kirsty 6,384
- Khadija 5,948
- Kimberley 5,189
- Kaitlyn 5,137
FAQ
Kendel: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kendel in the UK right now?
In 1997, Kendel was ranked #3824 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Kendel most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 3 babies registered as Kendel in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kendel?
A feminine name of unknown origin suggesting beauty or brightness.
How many people are called Kendel in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Kendel across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.