Kenneth
Kenneth is a boy's name of Celtic origin.
Meaning
Handsome or born of fire.
Origin and history
Kenneth is an English anglicization of the traditional Scottish Gaelic names Coinneach and Cined. It has historically been a very popular classic choice in the United States, ranking among the top 25 male given names overall since 1880.
Popularity in the United States
1,283,974 babies in the United States have been named Kenneth since 1880. It ranks #22 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #262.
States where it is most popular
- NY (7.7 %)
- CA (7.2 %)
- PA (5.9 %)
- IL (5.8 %)
- OH (5.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 362 |
| 1890-1900 | 1,298 |
| 1900-1910 | 4,579 |
| 1910-1920 | 43,248 |
| 1920-1930 | 99,490 |
| 1930-1940 | 125,111 |
| 1940-1950 | 198,553 |
| 1950-1960 | 262,819 |
| 1960-1970 | 227,531 |
| 1970-1980 | 111,489 |
| 1980-1990 | 89,110 |
| 1990-2000 | 58,254 |
| 2000-2010 | 34,090 |
| 2010-2019 | 20,213 |
| 2020-2029 | 7,827 |
Famous people named Kenneth
- Kenneth Branagh: Actor, Director
- Kenneth Edmonds: Musician, Producer
- Kenneth Cole: Fashion Designer, Entrepreneur
Nicknames
Ken, Kenny
Fun facts
- Kenneth combines two distinct Gaelic roots: Coinneach (meaning 'handsome' or 'comely') and Cináed (meaning 'born of fire').
- Kenneth MacAlpin (Kenneth I) was a 9th-century king traditionally considered the founder of the Kingdom of Scotland.