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Kingsley

Boy name · 60 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Kingsley: 60 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 12 births in 2021.

Kingsley began as an English surname, rooted in Old English *cyning* ("king") and *leah* ("wood" or "clearing"), literally meaning "the king's meadow." It rose to prominence as a given name in the 19th century, partly thanks to the novelist Charles Kingsley, author of *The Water-Babies*. Notable bearers include the Nobel Prize-winning writer Kingsley Amis and the acclaimed actor Sir Ben Kingsley. The name's regal element links it to countless places bearing the word "king," from Kingston to Kingussie, though no specific town is directly named after a Kingsley. As a first name, it strikes a balance between aristocratic bearing and warm accessibility, and its variant Kingsleigh offers a softer, more modern twist while keeping the same earthy, woodland feel.