UK boy's name
Kester
Diminutive form of Castor, derived from the Latin name for a beaver.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kester is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kester popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3254, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 16 births.
This profile covers 209 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 207 living people in the UK are called Kester. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kester ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 16 boys were registered as Kester.
- • About 207 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kester as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3254
2024
Births in 2024
6
Latest year
Peak year
1996
16 births
Estimated living
207
2026
Meaning
What does Kester mean?
The name Kester originates from the Old English word "cyster" or "cyst," meaning a chest or coffer. It was a surname given to those who worked as cofferers or keepers of the coffer or treasury. The name has its roots in the Anglo-Saxon culture and can be traced back to the 10th century.
In the Middle Ages, the name Kester was primarily used as a surname, but it eventually transitioned into a masculine given name. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kester as a first name dates back to the 16th century in England.
One notable figure in history who bore the name Kester was Kester Woodruffe (c. 1550-1626), an English actor and playwright during the Elizabethan era. He was a member of the Lord Chamberlain's Men, the same company that included William Shakespeare.
Another historical figure named Kester was Kester Clibborn (1814-1884), a British sailor and author. He wrote several books about his experiences at sea, including "The Sailor's Narrative" and "The Deep Sea and Coast Fisheries of Ireland."
In the 19th century, Kester Sengier (1847-1912) was a Belgian painter known for his landscapes and genre scenes. His works can be found in several museums across Europe.
Kester Vaughan (1920-2003) was an American writer and journalist who served as a war correspondent during World War II. He authored several books, including "With the Russians in Berlin" and "Pursuit of an 'Unparalleled Opportunity.'"
Lastly, Kester Rathenau (1909-1994) was a Dutch businessman and philanthropist. He played a significant role in the reconstruction efforts of the Netherlands after World War II and was instrumental in establishing several charitable organizations.
While the name Kester has fallen out of widespread use in recent times, it maintains a rich historical legacy, particularly in the Anglo-Saxon and English traditions, where it has been associated with various notable figures throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kester over time
The chart below shows babies named Kester registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kester, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 16 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kester by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kester 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 | #3657 | 20 | 4 |
| 2010s | #2825 | 68 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2024 | 80 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1326 | 41 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Kester
- 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
Kester: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kester in the UK right now?
In 2024, Kester was ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Kester most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 16 babies registered as Kester in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kester?
Diminutive form of Castor, derived from the Latin name for a beaver.
How many people are called Kester in the UK?
A total of 209 babies have been registered as Kester across the 28 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.