Kingsley

Kingsley is both a surname and a given name of English origin. The surname is toponymic, deriving from Old English elements such as cyning (king) and leah (clearing or meadow), and it historically referred to a clearing or meadow associated with a king. As a given name, Kingsley has been used primarily for boys and gained popularity in English-speaking countries during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Notable people with the name include Kingsley Amis, the English novelist and critic known for works such as The Old Devils and Lucky Jim, and Kingsley Ben-Adir, a British actor recognized for film and television performances including One Night in Miami and The Serpent. The name also appears in broader arts and public life beyond these figures.

Geographically, Kingsley names several places in the United Kingdom and North America, including towns and villages that bear the name as a designation for a locality. In popular culture, the name appears in fiction, most famously as Kingsley Shacklebolt, a senior wizard and member of the Order of the Phoenix in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series.

Today, Kingsley continues to be used as both a surname and a given name, carried by people across various professions and by several places that bear the name.