Fun Facts About the Name Kenneth
- A favorite across generations: Kenneth stayed in the U.S. top 100 every year from 1880 through 2025 - 146 consecutive years.
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 1,283,957 boys named Kenneth from 1880 through 2025.
- More than 1 million babies named Kenneth: U.S. records list 1,289,295 babies given the name Kenneth from 1880 through 2025. Even 5,338 girls received the name Kenneth - about 1 girl for every 241 boys.
What Does the Name Kenneth Mean?
Kenneth is an English masculine name of Gaelic origin. Its usual meaning is "handsome" or "comely," from the Scottish Gaelic Coinneach, which comes from Old Irish Cainnech, a name formed from cain "fair, comely, beautiful." The Old Irish saint Cainnech - known in English as Canice or Saint Kenneth - is the best-known early bearer of this name.
A separate Gaelic source for the English name is the Old Irish Cináed, the name of the 9th-century king remembered as Kenneth MacAlpin. The etymology of Cináed is disputed. It is often analyzed as cenn "head" plus áed "fire," giving a literal sense such as "fire-head" and the customary interpretation "born of fire." Other explanations exist, and the connection between Cináed and Coinneach is not certain; some sources treat them as the same name in different periods, while others treat them as distinct.
Kenneth Name History & Origins
The English form Kenneth developed in Scotland as an Anglicization of Gaelic names. The royal name Cináed appears in medieval Gaelic records; Cináed mac Ailpín, who died in 858, is called Kenneth MacAlpin in English histories and is traditionally regarded as an early king of a united Pictish-Scottish realm. Later Scottish kings named Cináed are numbered in English as Kenneth II and Kenneth III. In parallel, the saint's name Cainnech was rendered in Scottish Gaelic as Coinneach and then as Kenneth in English, especially in Scotland, where Saint Kenneth was a familiar figure.
Scottish and Irish emigration carried the name to North America, Australia, and other English-speaking regions. Sir Walter Scott's 1825 novel The Talisman includes a Scottish knight called Sir Kenneth, a literary use that came long after the name's Gaelic origins. The name has no single inventor or founding literary work; it grew out of the Gaelic names and their royal and religious associations.
How Popular is the Name Kenneth?
Kenneth has maintained century-spanning popularity, remaining an unbroken fixture in the U.S. top 100 continuously from 1898 to 2001.
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.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | #13,128 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2016 | #17,601 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #18,470 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #16,470 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #19,089 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #11,942 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2005 | #13,756 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #6,941 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2003 | #10,872 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2001 | #14,456 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #14,067 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1999 | #9,916 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1998 | #9,709 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1997 | #6,333 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1996 | #7,853 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1995 | #6,113 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1994 | #5,856 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1993 | #3,930 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1992 | #4,612 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1991 | #3,992 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1990 | #2,928 | 39 | 0.0021% |
| 1989 | #3,074 | 35 | 0.0019% |
| 1988 | #1,811 | 69 | 0.0039% |
| 1987 | #1,600 | 78 | 0.0045% |
| 1986 | #1,429 | 90 | 0.0052% |
| 1985 | #1,872 | 60 | 0.0035% |
| 1984 | #1,378 | 86 | 0.0051% |
| 1983 | #1,458 | 80 | 0.0048% |
| 1982 | #1,690 | 67 | 0.0040% |
| 1981 | #1,438 | 85 | 0.0051% |
| 1980 | #1,488 | 81 | 0.0049% |
| 1979 | #1,668 | 67 | 0.0042% |
| 1978 | #1,620 | 66 | 0.0043% |
| 1977 | #1,507 | 73 | 0.0048% |
| 1976 | #1,413 | 75 | 0.0051% |
| 1975 | #1,595 | 62 | 0.0043% |
| 1974 | #1,542 | 63 | 0.0043% |
| 1973 | #1,155 | 95 | 0.0065% |
| 1972 | #1,305 | 78 | 0.0051% |
| 1971 | #1,434 | 73 | 0.0044% |
| 1970 | #1,111 | 106 | 0.0061% |
| 1969 | #1,070 | 106 | 0.0063% |
| 1968 | #1,103 | 94 | 0.0057% |
| 1967 | #1,049 | 97 | 0.0059% |
| 1966 | #1,013 | 104 | 0.0061% |
| 1965 | #986 | 111 | 0.0063% |
| 1964 | #935 | 127 | 0.0067% |
| 1963 | #1,132 | 94 | 0.0049% |
| 1962 | #981 | 119 | 0.0061% |
| 1961 | #1,238 | 80 | 0.0040% |
| 1960 | #1,128 | 93 | 0.0046% |
| 1959 | #1,007 | 110 | 0.0054% |
| 1958 | #1,033 | 103 | 0.0051% |
| 1957 | #1,174 | 81 | 0.0040% |
| 1956 | #1,230 | 72 | 0.0036% |
| 1955 | #1,200 | 70 | 0.0036% |
| 1954 | #1,282 | 60 | 0.0031% |
| 1953 | #1,338 | 53 | 0.0028% |
| 1952 | #1,202 | 63 | 0.0034% |
| 1951 | #1,197 | 61 | 0.0034% |
| 1950 | #1,398 | 43 | 0.0025% |
| 1949 | #1,158 | 62 | 0.0036% |
| 1948 | #1,164 | 60 | 0.0035% |
| 1947 | #1,232 | 54 | 0.0030% |
| 1946 | #1,172 | 54 | 0.0034% |
| 1945 | #1,164 | 46 | 0.0035% |
| 1944 | #1,123 | 49 | 0.0037% |
| 1943 | #1,108 | 53 | 0.0038% |
| 1942 | #1,014 | 60 | 0.0044% |
| 1941 | #1,431 | 30 | 0.0025% |
| 1940 | #975 | 54 | 0.0047% |
| 1939 | #1,083 | 44 | 0.0040% |
| 1938 | #999 | 51 | 0.0046% |
| 1937 | #1,212 | 36 | 0.0034% |
| 1936 | #1,238 | 34 | 0.0033% |
| 1935 | #1,092 | 41 | 0.0039% |
| 1934 | #998 | 48 | 0.0046% |
| 1933 | #992 | 49 | 0.0049% |
| 1932 | #920 | 59 | 0.0055% |
| 1931 | #789 | 74 | 0.0070% |
| 1930 | #756 | 86 | 0.0076% |
| 1929 | #744 | 89 | 0.0080% |
| 1928 | #823 | 77 | 0.0067% |
| 1927 | #819 | 80 | 0.0067% |
| 1926 | #884 | 71 | 0.0060% |
| 1925 | #1,081 | 50 | 0.0041% |
| 1924 | #1,158 | 46 | 0.0037% |
| 1923 | #1,042 | 53 | 0.0044% |
| 1922 | #1,197 | 42 | 0.0035% |
| 1921 | #1,388 | 34 | 0.0028% |
| 1920 | #1,296 | 36 | 0.0030% |
| 1919 | #1,408 | 31 | 0.0027% |
| 1918 | #1,140 | 43 | 0.0037% |
| 1917 | #1,418 | 28 | 0.0026% |
| 1916 | #1,345 | 30 | 0.0029% |
| 1915 | #1,498 | 24 | 0.0024% |
| 1914 | #1,409 | 21 | 0.0028% |
| 1913 | #1,566 | 15 | 0.0024% |
| 1912 | #1,779 | 11 | 0.0020% |
| 1909 | #2,087 | 6 | 0.0017% |
| 1904 | #1,769 | 6 | 0.0022% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #294 | 1,148 | 0.0672% |
| 2024 | #284 | 1,186 | 0.0691% |
| 2023 | #262 | 1,318 | 0.0771% |
| 2022 | #263 | 1,310 | 0.0751% |
| 2021 | #258 | 1,373 | 0.0785% |
| 2020 | #243 | 1,482 | 0.0859% |
| 2019 | #234 | 1,622 | 0.0904% |
| 2018 | #225 | 1,671 | 0.0920% |
| 2017 | #218 | 1,765 | 0.0954% |
| 2016 | #208 | 1,919 | 0.1011% |
| 2015 | #200 | 2,031 | 0.1060% |
| 2014 | #191 | 2,153 | 0.1121% |
| 2013 | #187 | 2,176 | 0.1151% |
| 2012 | #175 | 2,224 | 0.1173% |
| 2011 | #170 | 2,217 | 0.1167% |
| 2010 | #160 | 2,427 | 0.1265% |
| 2009 | #151 | 2,612 | 0.1317% |
| 2008 | #137 | 2,967 | 0.1454% |
| 2007 | #135 | 3,108 | 0.1498% |
| 2006 | #129 | 3,243 | 0.1578% |
| 2005 | #122 | 3,368 | 0.1686% |
| 2004 | #119 | 3,425 | 0.1726% |
| 2003 | #111 | 3,643 | 0.1844% |
| 2002 | #104 | 3,665 | 0.1888% |
| 2001 | #97 | 3,907 | 0.2011% |
| 2000 | #94 | 4,152 | 0.2114% |
| 1999 | #89 | 4,285 | 0.2232% |
| 1998 | #87 | 4,586 | 0.2399% |
| 1997 | #83 | 4,659 | 0.2472% |
| 1996 | #77 | 4,973 | 0.2625% |
| 1995 | #72 | 5,226 | 0.2745% |
| 1994 | #65 | 5,679 | 0.2940% |
| 1993 | #60 | 6,277 | 0.3201% |
| 1992 | #59 | 6,733 | 0.3371% |
| 1991 | #54 | 7,576 | 0.3750% |
| 1990 | #52 | 8,262 | 0.4022% |
| 1989 | #53 | 8,555 | 0.4276% |
| 1988 | #51 | 8,567 | 0.4475% |
| 1987 | #53 | 8,354 | 0.4475% |
| 1986 | #50 | 8,453 | 0.4590% |
| 1985 | #47 | 8,994 | 0.4866% |
| 1984 | #46 | 8,791 | 0.4871% |
| 1983 | #45 | 8,965 | 0.5001% |
| 1982 | #45 | 9,356 | 0.5156% |
| 1981 | #41 | 9,473 | 0.5288% |
| 1980 | #41 | 9,610 | 0.5386% |
| 1979 | #41 | 9,237 | 0.5365% |
| 1978 | #41 | 9,021 | 0.5494% |
| 1977 | #39 | 9,453 | 0.5752% |
| 1976 | #38 | 9,128 | 0.5817% |
| 1975 | #35 | 9,633 | 0.6169% |
| 1974 | #34 | 10,146 | 0.6452% |
| 1973 | #28 | 10,981 | 0.7045% |
| 1972 | #27 | 12,333 | 0.7605% |
| 1971 | #26 | 14,762 | 0.8347% |
| 1970 | #25 | 16,803 | 0.9042% |
| 1969 | #23 | 17,550 | 0.9814% |
| 1968 | #23 | 18,078 | 1.0401% |
| 1967 | #22 | 19,260 | 1.1044% |
| 1966 | #21 | 20,834 | 1.1682% |
| 1965 | #21 | 22,677 | 1.2190% |
| 1964 | #18 | 24,857 | 1.2474% |
| 1963 | #18 | 25,226 | 1.2422% |
| 1962 | #18 | 25,240 | 1.2201% |
| 1961 | #16 | 26,101 | 1.2289% |
| 1960 | #16 | 27,691 | 1.2989% |
| 1959 | #15 | 26,641 | 1.2481% |
| 1958 | #14 | 26,686 | 1.2574% |
| 1957 | #14 | 28,060 | 1.3007% |
| 1956 | #16 | 27,433 | 1.2969% |
| 1955 | #15 | 26,744 | 1.2984% |
| 1954 | #17 | 26,185 | 1.2843% |
| 1953 | #17 | 25,507 | 1.2932% |
| 1952 | #16 | 25,910 | 1.3330% |
| 1951 | #16 | 25,843 | 1.3725% |
| 1950 | #15 | 23,813 | 1.3301% |
| 1949 | #15 | 23,588 | 1.3297% |
| 1948 | #15 | 23,553 | 1.3423% |
| 1947 | #15 | 24,584 | 1.3437% |
| 1946 | #15 | 22,039 | 1.3571% |
| 1945 | #16 | 18,098 | 1.3448% |
| 1944 | #16 | 18,093 | 1.3276% |
| 1943 | #15 | 19,112 | 1.3391% |
| 1942 | #15 | 18,210 | 1.3185% |
| 1941 | #15 | 16,143 | 1.3143% |
| 1940 | #15 | 15,131 | 1.3053% |
| 1939 | #13 | 14,715 | 1.3295% |
| 1938 | #14 | 14,399 | 1.2982% |
| 1937 | #14 | 13,218 | 1.2392% |
| 1936 | #14 | 12,486 | 1.2038% |
| 1935 | #15 | 12,066 | 1.1587% |
| 1934 | #15 | 11,801 | 1.1429% |
| 1933 | #15 | 11,410 | 1.1508% |
| 1932 | #14 | 11,742 | 1.1245% |
| 1931 | #14 | 11,568 | 1.1127% |
| 1930 | #17 | 11,704 | 1.0666% |
| 1929 | #18 | 10,841 | 1.0079% |
| 1928 | #17 | 11,167 | 1.0082% |
| 1927 | #18 | 10,848 | 0.9626% |
| 1926 | #18 | 10,342 | 0.9313% |
| 1925 | #19 | 10,146 | 0.9092% |
| 1924 | #19 | 10,355 | 0.9142% |
| 1923 | #21 | 9,734 | 0.8881% |
| 1922 | #21 | 9,258 | 0.8508% |
| 1921 | #22 | 8,959 | 0.8134% |
| 1920 | #23 | 7,840 | 0.7366% |
| 1919 | #26 | 6,796 | 0.6934% |
| 1918 | #27 | 6,809 | 0.6718% |
| 1917 | #27 | 6,141 | 0.6635% |
| 1916 | #27 | 6,012 | 0.6754% |
| 1915 | #28 | 5,681 | 0.6695% |
| 1914 | #30 | 4,178 | 0.6381% |
| 1913 | #33 | 3,065 | 0.5980% |
| 1912 | #33 | 2,538 | 0.5903% |
| 1911 | #40 | 1,148 | 0.5080% |
| 1910 | #43 | 880 | 0.4531% |
| 1909 | #41 | 746 | 0.4549% |
| 1908 | #40 | 692 | 0.4484% |
| 1907 | #47 | 589 | 0.4012% |
| 1906 | #45 | 534 | 0.4010% |
| 1905 | #53 | 474 | 0.3583% |
| 1904 | #57 | 414 | 0.3231% |
| 1903 | #67 | 330 | 0.2768% |
| 1902 | #78 | 275 | 0.2242% |
| 1901 | #78 | 246 | 0.2311% |
| 1900 | #90 | 279 | 0.1854% |
| 1899 | #87 | 214 | 0.2015% |
| 1898 | #100 | 191 | 0.1557% |
| 1897 | #105 | 164 | 0.1454% |
| 1896 | #106 | 175 | 0.1464% |
| 1895 | #131 | 127 | 0.1082% |
| 1894 | #145 | 105 | 0.0907% |
| 1893 | #174 | 83 | 0.0739% |
| 1892 | #157 | 102 | 0.0836% |
| 1891 | #193 | 65 | 0.0642% |
| 1890 | #189 | 72 | 0.0649% |
| 1889 | #199 | 66 | 0.0597% |
| 1888 | #267 | 45 | 0.0372% |
| 1887 | #273 | 35 | 0.0345% |
| 1886 | #278 | 38 | 0.0343% |
| 1885 | #261 | 41 | 0.0380% |
| 1884 | #329 | 29 | 0.0253% |
| 1883 | #328 | 26 | 0.0249% |
| 1882 | #383 | 22 | 0.0194% |
| 1881 | #300 | 29 | 0.0288% |
| 1880 | #297 | 32 | 0.0290% |
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.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Kenneth
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Kenneth Shapes Your Personality and Life?
EXTREMES in fortune, health and spirituality. You are very versatile, idealistic and intuitive. You either enjoy great success or suffer abject misery. The solution is service to others. Use your leadership abilities for humanity and not for self-glorification. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Kenneth's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Kenneth's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.