UK name, mostly boys
Kes
A shortened form of the feminine name Kesiah which means "cassia tree" in Hebrew.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2007. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 18 girls.
Kes is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Kes popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2007 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2435, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 9 births.
This profile covers 47 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 1997 to 2007. 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 78% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 47 living people in the UK are called Kes. 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 2008 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kes ranked #2435 for boys in England and Wales in 2007, with 7 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 9 boys were registered as Kes.
- • Kes is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 47 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kes as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 72.3% of Kes registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2435
2007
Births in 2007
7
Latest year
Peak year
1997
9 births
Estimated living
47
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Kes
In England and Wales birth records, Kes has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 72.3% of registrations are for boys and 27.7% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Kes registered for boys
- Ranked #2,435 in 2007
- 7 boys registered in 2007
- Peak: 1997 (9 births)
Kes registered for girls
- Ranked #4,798 in 2005
- 3 girls registered in 2005
- Peak: 1999 (6 births)
Meaning
What does Kes mean?
The name Kes has its origins in the Turkish language and culture. It is believed to have derived from the Old Turkic word "kes," which means "to cut" or "to sever." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with occupations or activities related to cutting or severing, such as tailors, blacksmiths, or warriors.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kes can be found in the Book of Dede Korkut, a collection of epic stories from the Oghuz Turks dating back to the 9th or 10th century. In this text, Kes is mentioned as the name of a legendary warrior and hero, indicating the name's historical significance and association with bravery and strength.
In the 13th century, the name Kes gained prominence with the birth of Kes Imrani, a renowned Persian poet and philosopher. Kes Imrani was known for his profound wisdom and contributions to the literary and intellectual spheres of his time.
Another notable figure bearing the name Kes was Kes Khwarizmi, a 16th-century mathematician and astronomer from the Khwarizm region of Central Asia. Kes Khwarizmi made significant contributions to the fields of algebra, geometry, and astronomy, and his works were widely studied and influential during the Islamic Golden Age.
In the 18th century, Kes Kirdari, an influential Turkish statesman and diplomat, played a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of the Ottoman Empire. His diplomatic skills and strategic negotiations helped maintain peace and stability within the empire's territories.
More recently, the name Kes has been associated with Kes Kartal, a 20th-century Turkish artist and painter renowned for his captivating landscapes and portraits. Kes Kartal's works are celebrated for their vibrant colors and unique perspectives, and they have been exhibited in museums and galleries around the world.
While the name Kes has its roots in the Turkish language and culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and has been adopted and used in various regions and contexts throughout history. The name's association with strength, wisdom, and artistic expression has made it a timeless and respected moniker across cultures.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kes over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Kes in England and Wales, from 1997 to 2007. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kes, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2007, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kes by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kes 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #2511 | 38 | 7 |
| 1990s | #1345 | 9 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Kes
- 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
Kes: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kes in the UK right now?
In 2007, Kes was ranked #2435 for boys in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.
When was Kes most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 9 babies registered as Kes in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kes?
A shortened form of the feminine name Kesiah which means "cassia tree" in Hebrew.
How many people are called Kes in the UK?
A total of 47 babies have been registered as Kes across the 8 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.