UK boy's name
Kento
A masculine Japanese name meaning "modest" or "humble".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kento is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kento popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4608, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 4 births.
This profile covers 13 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 1999 to 2020. 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.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 13 living people in the UK are called Kento. 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 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kento ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1999, when 4 boys were registered as Kento.
- • About 13 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kento as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4608
2020
Births in 2020
3
Latest year
Peak year
1999
4 births
Estimated living
13
2026
Meaning
What does Kento mean?
The name Kento is a masculine Japanese given name that originated from a combination of two distinct kanji (Chinese characters). The first kanji "Ken" means "healthy" or "robust," while the second kanji "to" signifies "soaring" or "flying." Together, the name Kento conveys a sense of vitality, strength, and ambition.
The roots of the name Kento can be traced back to ancient Japan, where naming conventions were heavily influenced by Chinese culture and literature. During the Heian period (794-1185 CE), the practice of bestowing Japanese names with Chinese characters became widespread among the aristocracy and noble classes.
While the name Kento itself does not appear in any notable ancient texts or religious scriptures, its individual components hold symbolic significance in Japanese and Chinese folklore. The character "Ken" is associated with longevity, resilience, and physical prowess, while "to" evokes imagery of freedom, aspiration, and soaring to new heights.
The earliest recorded examples of the name Kento can be found in historical records dating back to the late 19th century, during the Meiji era (1868-1912). This period marked a significant cultural shift in Japan, as the country embraced modernization and westernization, leading to a resurgence of interest in traditional Japanese names.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Kento, including:
1. Kento Yamazaki (born 1994), a Japanese actor and model best known for his roles in films like "L'Empereur de Paris" and the Netflix series "Alice in Borderland."
2. Kento Nagayama (born 1987), a Japanese professional basketball player who currently plays for the Shimane Susanoo Magic in the Japanese B.League.
3. Kento Momota (born 1994), a Japanese professional badminton player who has won numerous titles, including the 2018 and 2019 World Badminton Championships.
4. Kento Miura (1969-2021), a Japanese manga artist and writer, best known for his dark fantasy manga series "Berserk," which gained a massive cult following worldwide.
5. Kento Matsunami (born 1990), a Japanese professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Gamba Osaka in the J1 League.
These individuals, while from diverse fields, all embody the spirit and essence of the name Kento, exhibiting strength, perseverance, and a drive to soar to new heights in their respective endeavors.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kento over time
The chart below shows babies named Kento registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kento, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kento by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kento 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4608 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4647 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3651 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #2425 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Kento
- Kieran 30,429
- Kyle 28,463
- Kai 24,432
- Kian 17,666
- Kayden 8,305
- Kevin 7,927
- Kane 7,149
- Kaiden 5,762
- Kieron 4,547
- Kacper 4,366
- Kye 4,012
- Kit 3,529
FAQ
Kento: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kento in the UK right now?
In 2020, Kento was ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Kento most popular?
The peak year on record was 1999, with 4 babies registered as Kento in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kento?
A masculine Japanese name meaning "modest" or "humble".
How many people are called Kento in the UK?
A total of 13 babies have been registered as Kento across the 4 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.