What Does the Name Kingston Mean?
Kingston is a boy's name of English surname (place name) origin meaning “king's town / king's settlement.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Kingston |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | English surname (place name) |
| Meaning | king's town / king's settlement |
| Variants | Kinston, Kingstyn, Kingsten, King |
| Popularity | A modern US Top 200-300 boys' name; given a boost after Gwen Stefani named her son Kingston in 2006. |
The meaning and origin of Kingston
The name Kingston means “king's town / king's settlement” and has English surname (place name) origins. A transferred English place name and surname from Old English cyning ('king') and tun ('settlement, estate'), literally 'the king's town.' Popularized as a given name in the 2000s.
Variants and related names
Kingston is related to several other names you may recognize: Kinston, Kingstyn, Kingsten, King. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Kingston?
A modern US Top 200-300 boys' name; given a boost after Gwen Stefani named her son Kingston in 2006.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kingston mean?+
The name Kingston means “king's town / king's settlement” and is of English surname (place name) origin.
What is the origin of the name Kingston?+
Kingston originates from English surname (place name).
Is Kingston a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Kingston has trended in the US over time.
Kingston by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press