Ken
Ken is a boy's name of Celtic origin.
Meaning
Born of fire or handsome; short form of Kenneth.
Origin and history
Ken is traditionally a short form of Kenneth, derived from Gaelic names meaning 'born of fire' or 'handsome'. It established itself as an independent given name in the mid-20th century in the United States. Today, it is less common for newborns but remains widely recognized due to pop culture.
Popularity in the United States
33,013 babies in the United States have been named Ken since 1880. It ranks #646 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1660.
States where it is most popular
- CA (21.3 %)
- IL (6.7 %)
- MI (6.6 %)
- TX (5.7 %)
- NY (5.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 7 |
| 1910-1920 | 140 |
| 1920-1930 | 380 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,667 |
| 1940-1950 | 4,874 |
| 1950-1960 | 7,111 |
| 1960-1970 | 11,898 |
| 1970-1980 | 2,243 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,231 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,191 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,228 |
| 2010-2019 | 776 |
| 2020-2029 | 267 |
Famous people named Ken
- Ken Jennings: Game Show Host, Author
- Ken Griffey Jr.: Baseball Player
- Ken Burns: Filmmaker, Director
Fun facts
- The name gained global fame through Mattel's Ken doll, introduced in 1961 as Barbie's counterpart.
- Although used independently, Ken stems from Gaelic roots such as Coinneach and Cináed.