Meaning & Origin
A surname from Old English.
Kenley is a girl's and boy's baby name of Old English origin, from the English place name meaning 'Cena's clearing' or 'royal meadow,' from the Old English elements cyne (royal) and leah (clearing). Like Kinsley, Hadley, and Ainsley, it has made the journey from English place name to American first name for girls.
Kenley has that upscale, preppy quality of surname-names that works beautifully for girls — it sounds like a stable family name used as a first name, which is exactly what it is. Confident, clean, and distinguished.