Kenley is of British origin, derived from the surname Kennedy, which is an Anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic 'Cennéide'. It means 'ugly head', likely referring to a round-headed person. The name gained popularity in England during the Middle Ages and has since been used as both a first name and a last name.
The name Kenley experienced significant fluctuations over the century with a clear peak during the late 1960s to early 1970s and another notable spike starting around the year 2000.