Covington Name Meaning, Origins & History

Covington

Pronunciation: KUV-ing-tun

Meaning From the town near the cove Origin Old English Gender Boy
GIRLS RANK
#13,582
TREND
228

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of boys named Covington in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Covington

  • 44 babies named Covington: U.S. records list 44 babies given the name Covington from 1880 through 2025. Even 17 girls received the name Covington - about 1 girl for every 2 boys.

What Does the Name Covington Mean?

Covington is an English habitational name, taken from one or more places in Britain. It is built from Old English elements: a personal name, Cofa, plus -ing-, meaning "the people or followers of," and tūn, "enclosure, farmstead, settlement." The literal reading is "the farmstead of Cofa's people," or more simply "Cofa's settlement."

The sense of the personal name Cofa is not certain. It may be related to the Old English common noun cofa, "chamber, den, cave," but that link is not proved, and the name could instead be a shortened form whose fuller meaning was lost. The meaning of Covington therefore rests on the place-name formula rather than on a definite word meaning.

Covington Name History & Origins

Covington existed as a place name before it became a surname and, much later, a given name. The village of Covington in Cambridgeshire, historically part of Huntingdonshire, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, and its name shows the Old English pattern of a personal name with the -ing- and tūn suffixes. A separate Covington lies in Lanarkshire, Scotland; it is generally understood to have the same kind of Old English origin, though its early forms are less well documented.

From such places the surname Covington developed, borne by families in England and Scotland. Like other habitational surnames, it originally identified a person by the place he came from. The name crossed to North America with English and Scottish settlers and was later applied to several American towns and counties. Its use as a first name is a more recent step, following the widespread practice of adopting surnames as given names.

How Popular is the Name Covington?

Covington has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2024. Its best rank was #3,973 in 1924.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

Most Popular Boy Names That Start with C

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How the Name Covington Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You are cheerful and friendly, but are apt to have an emotional life. You like to have several lines of effort going at once. You are a good talker and promoter and seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient, and impulsive. You have the ability to bring an idea to completion. You can express yourself joyously and constructively. You might be psychic, but not know it. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.

You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.

✦ Covington's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Covington's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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