Kenneth

Q: What is the origin of Kenneth?

Kenneth is of Scottish Gaelic origin. The name carries significant cultural meaning and has been used across generations within its origin tradition.

Q: How popular is the name Kenneth?

According to the latest SSA data, Kenneth is currently ranked #999999 in the United States. The popularity of this name has evolved over the past century based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Q: Is Kenneth a girl name?

Kenneth is traditionally a girl name. Modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal choice and cultural context.

female

Updated 6 months ago

Meaning

"Born of Fire; Handsome"

Anglicized from Gaelic forms with debated roots, it is strongly associated with Scottish usage and medieval kingship.

Themes:gaelicfirescotlanduncertain

Unique Rare Strong Powerful Bold

Fact-checked by Lily Anderson

M.F.A. Creative Writing, Sarah LawrencePublished NovelistName Collection Curator • Creative Names Editor

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Kenneth

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

UnrankedNot ranked in 2024

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Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Year

Selected Year Rank

Unranked

Kenneth did not appear in the national SSA rankings for 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year

no national rank in 2024

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Kenneth Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Kenneth.

10 ideas

Ken

Nickname

Kenny

Nickname

kenneth

Nickname

kenn

Nickname

keny

Nickname

neth

Nickname

nney

Nickname

Similar Names to Kenneth

female

Anna

AN-uh

“Grace; Favor”

#94

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Ashley

“Ash Tree Clearing”

#124

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Amanda

uh-MAN-duh

“Worthy of Love”

#496

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Amy

AY-mee

“Beloved”

#228

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Angela

AN-juh-luh

“Messenger; Angel”

#282

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Ann

“Grace, Favor”

#1141

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Amber

“Amber Resin”

#541

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Annie

“Grace, Favor”

#191

|Hebrew

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Alexis

uh-LEK-sis

“Defender; Helper”

#506

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Audrey

“Noble Strength”

#82

|English

Baby Name Lists That Include Kenneth

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Kenneth, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

26 linked lists

Famous Kenneths

K
Kenneth Branagh
Northern Irish actor and filmmaker known for directing Shakespeare adaptations
K
Kenneth Clark
British art historian and presenter of the television series Civilisation

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Kenneth mean?

Kenneth means "Born of Fire; Handsome". Anglicized from Gaelic forms with debated roots, it is strongly associated with Scottish usage and medieval kingship.

What is the origin of Kenneth?

Kenneth is of Scottish Gaelic origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.

How popular is the name Kenneth?

According to the latest SSA data, Kenneth is currently not ranked in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Is Kenneth a girl name?

Kenneth is traditionally a girl name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.

What are good nicknames for Kenneth?

Popular nicknames for Kenneth include Ken, Kenny, kenneth, kenn, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.

What names are similar to Kenneth?

There are many names similar to Kenneth in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginScottish Gaelic, English

Syllables2

Length7 letters

Trend→ Stable

Starts withK

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Angus Argyle Buchanan Craig Camren

Sisters

Aileana Cameryn Craig Catriona Camren

Explore More Girl Names Like Kenneth

Kenneth has Scottish Gaelic roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our Scottish Gaelic baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Kenneth appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Names That Mean Fire and Names That Mean Strength for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Beautiful Irish Baby Names and Unique Baby Names.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Kenneth pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Kenneth beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.