Kenya
Kenya is a girl's name of African origin.
Meaning
Striped mountain or place where snow rests.
Origin and history
Kenya is a given name derived from the African country of Kenya, which takes its name from Mount Kenya. In the Kikuyu language, the mountain is known as Kirinyaga, meaning 'place where the snow rests' or 'white mountain'. It gained notable popularity in the United States starting in the late 20th century as a place name and culturally significant choice.
Popularity in the United States
25,412 babies in the United States have been named Kenya since 1880. It ranks #916 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1300.
States where it is most popular
- CA (12.9 %)
- TX (9.4 %)
- NY (8.1 %)
- IL (6.9 %)
- GA (6.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 89 |
| 1960-1970 | 691 |
| 1970-1980 | 6,502 |
| 1980-1990 | 3,440 |
| 1990-2000 | 5,220 |
| 2000-2010 | 5,069 |
| 2010-2019 | 3,553 |
| 2020-2029 | 848 |
Famous people named Kenya
- Kenya Moore: Actress, Model
Fun facts
- The country and name originate from Mount Kenya, the second-highest mountain peak in Africa.
- The name saw its highest popularity in the U.S. during the late 1990s and early 2000s.