Kenneth Overview
Fire born, good-looking
Boy
Scottish
Derived from the Gaelic name “Cionaodh” or “Cináed,” combining “cion” (love or affection) and “Aodh” (fire).
Christianity
/ˈkɛnɪθ/
Kenneth is a classic name found in various countries, especially in Scotland and the USA. In 2023, Kenneth ranked #234 for boys in the USA.
2 syllables
7 letters
5 (Visionary, Expansive, Adventurous)
Classic, Vintage, Cool
Noble, reliable, dignified
Often associated with Saint Kenneth, an Irish saint and missionary in Scotland.
October 11 (Ireland)
Kenneth Variations in Different Cultures
Ken, Kennith, Kenny, Kennet, Kennith
Kenno, Keni, Neth, Kenth
Kenni, Keno, Kent
What Is the Meaning of Kenneth?
Kenneth means “handsome” or “born of fire.” The name is often associated with a charismatic and ambitious personality, exuding confidence and warmth.
What Is the Origin of The Name Kenneth?
The name Kenneth has Gaelic origins, derived from the Scottish name “Cionaodh” or “Cináed,” which combines “cion” (love or affection) and “Aodh” (fire). It was popularized in Scotland and Ireland, symbolizing noble heritage and fiery spirit.
Kenneth Name Popularity
Popularity Chart of the Name Kenneth in the U.S. over the Years
 United States | #2582021 | #2632022 | #2622023 |
| Top 3 Rankings | #131939 | #141931 | #141932 |
Annual Statistics Breakdown for Kenneth
| Year | Name Ranking | Number of Births | Birth Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 262 (+1 from 2022) | 1314 (+6 from 2022) | 0.07176 |
| 2022 | 263 (-5 from 2021) | 1308 (-65 from 2021) | 0.06984 |
| 2021 | 258 (-15 from 2020) | 1373 (-109 from 2020) | 0.07328 |
| 2020 | 243 (-9 from 2019) | 1482 (-137 from 2019) | 0.08012 |
| 2019 | 234 (-9 from 2018) | 1619 (-51 from 2018) | 0.08425 |
| 2018 | 225 (-7 from 2017) | 1670 (-95 from 2017) | 0.08592 |
| 2017 | 218 (-10 from 2016) | 1765 (-153 from 2016) | 0.08918 |
| 2016 | 208 (-9 from 2015) | 1918 (-112 from 2015) | 0.09469 |
| 2015 | 199 (-8 from 2014) | 2030 (-123 from 2014) | 0.09929 |
| 2014 | 191 (-4 from 2013) | 2153 (-22 from 2013) | 0.10506 |
| 2013 | 187 (-12 from 2012) | 2175 (-49 from 2012) | 0.10764 |
| 2012 | 175 (-5 from 2011) | 2224 (+8 from 2011) | 0.10960 |
| 2011 | 170 (-10 from 2010) | 2216 (-211 from 2010) | 0.10909 |
| 2010 | 160 (-9 from 2009) | 2427 (-185 from 2009) | 0.11814 |
| 2009 | 151 (-14 from 2008) | 2612 (-354 from 2008) | 0.12315 |
| 2008 | 137 (-2 from 2007) | 2966 (-142 from 2007) | 0.13603 |
| 2007 | 135 (-6 from 2006) | 3108 (-134 from 2006) | 0.14031 |
| 2006 | 129 (-7 from 2005) | 3242 (-126 from 2005) | 0.14788 |
| 2005 | 122 (-3 from 2004) | 3368 (-57 from 2004) | 0.15832 |
| 2004 | 119 (-8 from 2003) | 3425 (-218 from 2003) | 0.16206 |
| 2003 | 111 (-7 from 2002) | 3643 (-22 from 2002) | 0.17338 |
| 2002 | 104 (-7 from 2001) | 3665 (-243 from 2001) | 0.17734 |
| 2001 | 97 (-3 from 2000) | 3908 (-244 from 2000) | 0.18894 |
| 2000 | 94 (-5 from 1999) | 4152 (-133 from 1999) | 0.19882 |
| 1999 | 89 (-2 from 1998) | 4285 (-301 from 1998) | 0.21015 |
| 1998 | 87 (-4 from 1997) | 4586 (-73 from 1997) | 0.22617 |
| 1997 | 83 (-6 from 1996) | 4659 (-314 from 1996) | 0.23321 |
| 1996 | 77 (-5 from 1995) | 4973 (-252 from 1995) | 0.24819 |
| 1995 | 72 (-7 from 1994) | 5225 (-453 from 1994) | 0.25977 |
| 1994 | 65 (-5 from 1993) | 5678 (-599 from 1993) | 0.27856 |
| 1993 | 60 (-1 from 1992) | 6277 (-456 from 1992) | 0.30389 |
| 1992 | 59 (-5 from 1991) | 6733 (-843 from 1991) | 0.32075 |
| 1991 | 54 (-2 from 1990) | 7576 (-686 from 1990) | 0.35741 |
| 1990 | 52 (+1 from 1989) | 8262 (-293 from 1989) | 0.38392 |
| 1989 | 53 (-2 from 1988) | 8555 (-12 from 1988) | 0.40816 |
| 1988 | 51 (+2 from 1987) | 8567 (+214 from 1987) | 0.42786 |
| 1987 | 53 (-3 from 1986) | 8353 (-100 from 1986) | 0.42831 |
| 1986 | 50 (-3 from 1985) | 8453 (-541 from 1985) | 0.43987 |
| 1985 | 47 (-1 from 1984) | 8994 (+203 from 1984) | 0.46736 |
| 1984 | 46 (-1 from 1983) | 8791 (-174 from 1983) | 0.46843 |
| 1983 | 45 No change from 1982 | 8965 (-391 from 1982) | 0.48106 |
| 1982 | 45 (-4 from 1981) | 9356 (-119 from 1981) | 0.49577 |
| 1981 | 41 No change from 1980 | 9475 (-133 from 1980) | 0.50876 |
| 1980 | 41 No change from 1979 | 9608 (+370 from 1979) | 0.51802 |
| 1979 | 41 No change from 1978 | 9238 (+215 from 1978) | 0.51571 |
| 1978 | 41 (-2 from 1977) | 9023 (-429 from 1977) | 0.52809 |
| 1977 | 39 (-1 from 1976) | 9452 (+324 from 1976) | 0.55296 |
| 1976 | 38 (-3 from 1975) | 9128 (-504 from 1975) | 0.55911 |
| 1975 | 35 (-1 from 1974) | 9632 (-514 from 1974) | 0.59369 |
| 1974 | 34 (-6 from 1973) | 10146 (-834 from 1973) | 0.62236 |
| 1973 | 28 (-1 from 1972) | 10980 (-1350 from 1972) | 0.68045 |
| 1972 | 27 (-2 from 1971) | 12330 (-2434 from 1971) | 0.73654 |
| 1971 | 25 No change from 1970 | 14764 (-2039 from 1970) | 0.81216 |
| 1970 | 25 (-2 from 1969) | 16803 (-745 from 1969) | 0.88215 |
| 1969 | 23 No change from 1968 | 17548 (-531 from 1968) | 0.95935 |
| 1968 | 23 (-1 from 1967) | 18079 (-1184 from 1967) | 1.01828 |
| 1967 | 22 (-1 from 1966) | 19263 (-1571 from 1966) | 1.08254 |
| 1966 | 21 No change from 1965 | 20834 (-1843 from 1965) | 1.14622 |
| 1965 | 21 (-3 from 1964) | 22677 (-2181 from 1964) | 1.19693 |
| 1964 | 18 No change from 1963 | 24858 (-368 from 1963) | 1.22632 |
| 1963 | 18 No change from 1962 | 25226 (-10 from 1962) | 1.22182 |
| 1962 | 18 (-2 from 1961) | 25236 (-860 from 1961) | 1.20075 |
| 1961 | 16 No change from 1960 | 26096 (-1602 from 1960) | 1.20983 |
| 1960 | 16 (-1 from 1959) | 27698 (+1071 from 1959) | 1.27914 |
| 1959 | 15 (-1 from 1958) | 26627 (-64 from 1958) | 1.22905 |
| 1958 | 14 No change from 1957 | 26691 (-1366 from 1957) | 1.23864 |
| 1957 | 14 (+2 from 1956) | 28057 (+625 from 1956) | 1.28178 |
| 1956 | 16 (-1 from 1955) | 27432 (+690 from 1955) | 1.27815 |
| 1955 | 15 (+2 from 1954) | 26742 (+559 from 1954) | 1.27936 |
| 1954 | 17 No change from 1953 | 26183 (+677 from 1953) | 1.26541 |
| 1953 | 17 (-1 from 1952) | 25506 (-405 from 1952) | 1.27389 |
| 1952 | 16 No change from 1951 | 25911 (+70 from 1951) | 1.31309 |
| 1951 | 16 (-1 from 1950) | 25841 (+2024 from 1950) | 1.35174 |
| 1950 | 15 No change from 1949 | 23817 (+230 from 1949) | 1.30949 |
| 1949 | 15 No change from 1948 | 23587 (+36 from 1948) | 1.30893 |
| 1948 | 15 No change from 1947 | 23551 (-1032 from 1947) | 1.32105 |
| 1947 | 15 No change from 1946 | 24583 (+2545 from 1946) | 1.32339 |
| 1946 | 15 (+1 from 1945) | 22038 (+3940 from 1945) | 1.33532 |
| 1945 | 16 No change from 1944 | 18098 (+5 from 1944) | 1.31962 |
| 1944 | 16 (-1 from 1943) | 18093 (-1019 from 1943) | 1.30244 |
| 1943 | 15 No change from 1942 | 19112 (+901 from 1942) | 1.31389 |
| 1942 | 15 No change from 1941 | 18211 (+2070 from 1941) | 1.29312 |
| 1941 | 15 No change from 1940 | 16141 (+1010 from 1940) | 1.28628 |
| 1940 | 15 (-2 from 1939) | 15131 (+416 from 1939) | 1.27562 |
| 1939 | 13 (+1 from 1938) | 14715 (+315 from 1938) | 1.29841 |
| 1938 | 14 No change from 1937 | 14400 (+1183 from 1937) | 1.26706 |
| 1937 | 14 No change from 1936 | 13217 (+731 from 1936) | 1.20853 |
| 1936 | 14 (+1 from 1935) | 12486 (+420 from 1935) | 1.17317 |
| 1935 | 15 No change from 1934 | 12066 (+265 from 1934) | 1.12809 |
| 1934 | 15 No change from 1933 | 11801 (+392 from 1933) | 1.11127 |
| 1933 | 15 (-1 from 1932) | 11409 (-331 from 1932) | 1.11832 |
| 1932 | 14 No change from 1931 | 11740 (+171 from 1931) | 1.09267 |
| 1931 | 14 (+3 from 1930) | 11569 (-135 from 1930) | 1.08144 |
| 1930 | 17 (+1 from 1929) | 11704 (+864 from 1929) | 1.03620 |
| 1929 | 18 (-1 from 1928) | 10840 (-328 from 1928) | 0.97869 |
| 1928 | 17 (+1 from 1927) | 11168 (+321 from 1927) | 0.97865 |
| 1927 | 18 No change from 1926 | 10847 (+505 from 1926) | 0.93354 |
| 1926 | 18 (+1 from 1925) | 10342 (+196 from 1925) | 0.90288 |
| 1925 | 19 No change from 1924 | 10146 (-209 from 1924) | 0.88117 |
| 1924 | 19 (+2 from 1923) | 10355 (+621 from 1923) | 0.88578 |
| 1923 | 21 No change from 1922 | 9734 (+477 from 1922) | 0.85969 |
| 1922 | 21 (+1 from 1921) | 9257 (+297 from 1921) | 0.82270 |
| 1921 | 22 (+1 from 1920) | 8960 (+1120 from 1920) | 0.78739 |
| 1920 | 23 (+3 from 1919) | 7840 (+1044 from 1919) | 0.71222 |
| 1919 | 26 (+1 from 1918) | 6796 (-13 from 1918) | 0.66934 |
| 1918 | 27 No change from 1917 | 6809 (+668 from 1917) | 0.64931 |
| 1917 | 27 No change from 1916 | 6141 (+129 from 1916) | 0.64015 |
| 1916 | 27 (+1 from 1915) | 6012 (+331 from 1915) | 0.65118 |
| 1915 | 28 (+2 from 1914) | 5681 (+1503 from 1914) | 0.64489 |
| 1914 | 30 (+3 from 1913) | 4178 (+1113 from 1913) | 0.61143 |
| 1913 | 33 No change from 1912 | 3065 (+527 from 1912) | 0.57156 |
| 1912 | 33 (+7 from 1911) | 2538 (+1390 from 1911) | 0.56218 |
| 1911 | 40 (+3 from 1910) | 1148 (+268 from 1910) | 0.47557 |
| 1910 | 43 (-2 from 1909) | 880 (+134 from 1909) | 0.42203 |
| 1909 | 41 (-1 from 1908) | 746 (+54 from 1908) | 0.42180 |
| 1908 | 40 (+7 from 1907) | 692 (+103 from 1907) | 0.41595 |
| 1907 | 47 (-2 from 1906) | 589 (+55 from 1906) | 0.37141 |
| 1906 | 45 (+7 from 1905) | 534 (+60 from 1905) | 0.37066 |
| 1905 | 52 (+5 from 1904) | 474 (+60 from 1904) | 0.33093 |
| 1904 | 57 (+10 from 1903) | 414 (+84 from 1903) | 0.29891 |
| 1903 | 67 (+11 from 1902) | 330 (+55 from 1902) | 0.25518 |
| 1902 | 78 No change from 1901 | 275 (+29 from 1901) | 0.20716 |
| 1901 | 78 (+12 from 1900) | 246 (-33 from 1900) | 0.21282 |
| 1900 | 90 (-3 from 1899) | 279 (+65 from 1899) | 0.17209 |
| 1899 | 87 (+13 from 1898) | 214 (+23 from 1898) | 0.18577 |
| 1898 | 100 (+5 from 1897) | 191 (+27 from 1897) | 0.14459 |
| 1897 | 105 (+1 from 1896) | 164 (-11 from 1896) | 0.13449 |
| 1896 | 106 (+25 from 1895) | 175 (+48 from 1895) | 0.13559 |
| 1895 | 131 (+13 from 1894) | 127 (+22 from 1894) | 0.10028 |
| 1894 | 144 (+28 from 1893) | 105 (+22 from 1893) | 0.08407 |
| 1893 | 172 (-15 from 1892) | 83 (-19 from 1892) | 0.06857 |
| 1892 | 157 (+34 from 1891) | 102 (+37 from 1891) | 0.07759 |
| 1891 | 191 (-5 from 1890) | 65 (-7 from 1890) | 0.05949 |
| 1890 | 186 (+11 from 1889) | 72 (+6 from 1889) | 0.06015 |
| 1889 | 197 (+65 from 1888) | 66 (+21 from 1888) | 0.05545 |
| 1888 | 262 (+10 from 1887) | 45 (+10 from 1887) | 0.03464 |
| 1887 | 272 (+3 from 1886) | 35 (-3 from 1886) | 0.03202 |
| 1886 | 275 (-17 from 1885) | 38 (-3 from 1885) | 0.03192 |
| 1885 | 258 (+67 from 1884) | 41 (+12 from 1884) | 0.03536 |
| 1884 | 325 (-1 from 1883) | 29 (+3 from 1883) | 0.02363 |
| 1883 | 324 (+53 from 1882) | 26 (+4 from 1882) | 0.02312 |
| 1882 | 377 (-81 from 1881) | 22 (-7 from 1881) | 0.01803 |
| 1881 | 296 (-5 from 1880) | 29 (-3 from 1880) | 0.02678 |
| 1880 | 291 First SSA data recorded | 32 First SSA data recorded | 0.02703 |
American States Popularity Rankings for Kenneth
(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Number of Births )New York (NY)
 New York (NY) | #2832021 | #2682022 | #3262023 |
California (CA)
 California (CA) | #3152021 | #3342022 | #3272023 |
Pennsylvania (PA)
 Pennsylvania (PA) | #2142021 | #2632022 | #2722023 |
Illinois (IL)
 Illinois (IL) | #2882021 | #3032022 | #2812023 |
Ohio (OH)
 Ohio (OH) | #2182021 | #2302022 | #2232023 |
Texas (TX)
 Texas (TX) | #2882021 | #2992022 | #2982023 |
Michigan (MI)
 Michigan (MI) | #2442021 | #2792022 | #1732023 |
New Jersey (NJ)
 New Jersey (NJ) | #3242021 | #2942022 | #2312023 |
North Carolina (NC)
 North Carolina (NC) | #2372021 | #2212022 | #2002023 |
Missouri (MO)
 Missouri (MO) | #1962021 | #2362022 | #3122023 |
Florida (FL)
 Florida (FL) | #2502021 | #2932022 | #2332023 |
Indiana (IN)
 Indiana (IN) | #2732021 | #2392022 | #2762023 |
Massachusetts (MA)
 Massachusetts (MA) | #2612021 | #2712022 | #2482023 |
Wisconsin (WI)
 Wisconsin (WI) | #2092021 | #2332022 | #4642023 |
Georgia (GA)
 Georgia (GA) | #2952021 | #1992022 | #2382023 |
Tennessee (TN)
 Tennessee (TN) | #2262021 | #2392022 | #2062023 |
Virginia (VA)
 Virginia (VA) | #2222021 | #2512022 | #1992023 |
Kentucky (KY)
 Kentucky (KY) | #2322021 | #1582022 | #2372023 |
Louisiana (LA)
 Louisiana (LA) | #2482021 | #2402022 | #2312023 |
Alabama (AL)
 Alabama (AL) | #1862021 | #1672022 | #2162023 |
Minnesota (MN)
 Minnesota (MN) | #3102021 | #3092022 | #2362023 |
Oklahoma (OK)
 Oklahoma (OK) | #3032021 | #3422022 | #2412023 |
Iowa (IA)
 Iowa (IA) | #3762021 | #1982022 | #2432023 |
Washington (WA)
 Washington (WA) | #2652021 | #3502022 | #2302023 |
Maryland (MD)
 Maryland (MD) | #2312021 | #2242022 | #2642023 |
South Carolina (SC)
 South Carolina (SC) | #1782021 | #2592022 | #3402023 |
Kansas (KS)
 Kansas (KS) | #2022021 | #3342022 | #2322023 |
Arkansas (AR)
 Arkansas (AR) | #1782021 | #2142022 | #2662023 |
West Virginia (WV)
 West Virginia (WV) | #2142021 | #1862022 | #2262023 |
Mississippi (MS)
 Mississippi (MS) | #1562021 | #1982022 | #2932023 |
Connecticut (CT)
 Connecticut (CT) | #3492021 | #3422022 | #2312023 |
Colorado (CO)
 Colorado (CO) | #4562021 | #3912022 | #6312023 |
Nebraska (NE)
 Nebraska (NE) | #2462021 | #2672022 | #2592023 |
Oregon (OR)
 Oregon (OR) | #3202021 | #3002022 | #3452023 |
Arizona (AZ)
 Arizona (AZ) | #3162021 | #4742022 | #2522023 |
Utah (UT)
 Utah (UT) | #3732021 | #3252022 | #3372023 |
District of Columbia (DC)
 District of Columbia (DC) | #2142018 | #1682020 | #2302022 |
Maine (ME)
 Maine (ME) | #2242016 | #2222018 | #2112019 |
Rhode Island (RI)
 Rhode Island (RI) | #1042019 | #1672021 | #2032022 |
North Dakota (ND)
 North Dakota (ND) | #2342016 | #2322017 | #2172022 |
South Dakota (SD)
 South Dakota (SD) | #1562018 | #2762019 | #2642022 |
Montana (MT)
 Montana (MT) | #2152018 | #1852020 | #2202021 |
Idaho (ID)
 Idaho (ID) | #2952021 | #3372022 | #3822023 |
New Mexico (NM)
 New Mexico (NM) | #2092021 | #3312022 | #2742023 |
Hawaii (HI)
 Hawaii (HI) | #1762017 | #1722019 | #2372023 |
New Hampshire (NH)
 New Hampshire (NH) | #1952018 | #2392020 | #2192023 |
Delaware (DE)
 Delaware (DE) | #2282016 | #2192019 | #1642020 |
Nevada (NV)
 Nevada (NV) | #2702021 | #3802022 | #5462023 |
Vermont (VT)
 Vermont (VT) | #831996 | #672000 | #1252004 |
Wyoming (WY)
 Wyoming (WY) | #1172012 | #1252016 | #1342018 |
Alaska (AK)
 Alaska (AK) | #2302018 | #1282019 | #1162020 |
Popularity Rankings for Kenneth in other Countries and American Territories
(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Rankings)
Popularity in Denmark
 Denmark | #411993 | #391994 | #481995 |
Popularity in Other American Territories
American Samoa
Guam
Northern Mariana Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands
American Samoa
Guam
Northern Mariana Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands
 Other American Territories | #562002 | #802006 | #582007 |
Popularity in Australia (NSW)
 Australia (NSW) | #991975 | #991976 | #991977 |
Popularity in Belgium
 Belgium | #1091996 | #1251997 | #1471998 |
Popularity in Greenland
 Greenland | #1192019 | #1482020 | #1462021 |
Popularity in Puerto Rico
 Puerto Rico | #1942020 | #2562021 | #2042022 |
Popularity in Northern Ireland
 Northern Ireland | #2772000 | #2802001 | #3152007 |
Popularity in Scotland
 Scotland | #3022016 | #4422017 | #4822023 |
Popularity in Norway
 Norway | #4882019 | #3942020 | #4542021 |
Popularity in New Zealand
 New Zealand | #4212013 | #4122018 | #4392019 |
Popularity in Canada
 Canada | #4362021 | #6132022 | #5792023 |
Popularity in Ireland
 Ireland | #6372020 | #7552021 | #5722022 |
Popularity in England and Wales
 England and Wales | #8882015 | #8182016 | #9292019 |
Popularity in Quebec, Canada
 Quebec, Canada | #8982008 | #8532016 | #9442022 |
Source: Social Security Administration (SSA) and Other National Sources
Is Kenneth a Name for Boys or Girls?
Historically and culturally, Kenneth is recognized as a male name, commonly assigned to boys due to its association with notable male leaders and saints.