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Kenneth Name Origin: Scottish
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Pronunciation: ken-eth
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See what 9 people think about Kenneth
Kenneth Name Meaning
The name Kenneth is a Scottish name, derived from the Gaelic name “Coinneach,” which means “handsome.” It was popularized in the English-speaking world by the Scottish king Kenneth MacAlpin in the 9th century.
Origins of the Name Kenneth
Over time, the name Kenneth has evolved and spread in usage, with variations appearing in different cultures, including the Irish name Cionaith and the Welsh name Cenydd.
Despite its Scottish origins, the name Kenneth has become a popular name all over the world, particularly in English-speaking countries. In the United States, it was a top 100 name for much of the 20th century and remained a popular choice for boys well into the 1980s.
Popularity of the Name Kenneth
In the early 1900s, Kenneth was a popular name for boys in the United States and remained so for several decades. Its popularity reached its peak in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, when it was among the top 10 names for boys in the country.
However, its popularity began to decline in the 1960s and 1970s, and by the 1980s, it had fallen out of the top 100 names for boys. Despite this decline, the name has remained a popular choice for parents, particularly in the English-speaking world.
Famous Kenneths
Throughout history, there have been many notable people named Kenneth, including kings, politicians, actors, and athletes. Some of the most famous Kenneths include:
- Kenneth Branagh, a British actor, director, and writer
- Kenneth Clarke, a British politician and former cabinet minister
- Kenneth Cole, an American fashion designer
- Kenneth Kaunda, the first president of Zambia
- Kenneth More, a British actor
The name Kenneth continues to be a popular choice for boys all over the world, and its popularity shows no signs of waning anytime soon. Whether you’re a parent looking for a traditional yet stylish name for your son or a historian exploring the origins of names, the name Kenneth is well worth considering.
Final Thoughts on the Name Kenneth
In conclusion, the name Kenneth is a classic, timeless name that has remained popular for centuries. Its Scottish roots and strong meaning make it a great choice for parents looking for a traditional yet stylish name for their son. With its long history of usage and many notable people named Kenneth, this name is sure to endure for generations to come.
Infographic of Kenneth name meaning, which is Meaning handsome, Kenneth is a Scottish name.
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Kenneth Name Popularity
How popular is the name Kenneth? Here’s everything we know.
| Year |
Rank |
# Births |
% Births |
| 1910 |
— |
865 |
0.2457% |
| 1911 |
— |
1,119 |
0.3005% |
| 1912 |
— |
2,528 |
0.5013% |
| 1913 |
— |
3,053 |
0.5385% |
| 1914 |
— |
4,171 |
0.5985% |
| 1915 |
— |
5,677 |
0.6248% |
| 1916 |
— |
6,011 |
0.6223% |
| 1917 |
— |
6,134 |
0.6131% |
| 1918 |
— |
6,804 |
0.634% |
| 1919 |
— |
6,790 |
0.6484% |
| 1920 |
— |
7,836 |
0.7048% |
| 1921 |
— |
8,960 |
0.7825% |
| 1922 |
— |
9,260 |
0.8312% |
| 1923 |
— |
9,728 |
0.8685% |
| 1924 |
— |
10,352 |
0.8914% |
| 1925 |
— |
10,146 |
0.8977% |
| 1926 |
— |
10,339 |
0.94% |
| 1927 |
— |
10,844 |
0.9797% |
| 1928 |
— |
11,170 |
1.044% |
| 1929 |
— |
10,835 |
1.046% |
| 1930 |
— |
11,697 |
1.1198% |
| 1931 |
— |
11,566 |
1.1719% |
| 1932 |
— |
11,741 |
1.1884% |
| 1933 |
— |
11,399 |
1.2235% |
| 1934 |
— |
11,797 |
1.2203% |
| 1935 |
— |
12,063 |
1.2413% |
| 1936 |
— |
12,485 |
1.2961% |
| 1937 |
— |
13,213 |
1.3409% |
| 1938 |
— |
14,395 |
1.4061% |
| 1939 |
— |
14,710 |
1.4461% |
| 1940 |
— |
15,134 |
1.4238% |
| 1941 |
— |
16,133 |
1.4334% |
| 1942 |
— |
18,205 |
1.4417% |
| 1943 |
— |
19,109 |
1.4637% |
| 1944 |
— |
18,092 |
1.4598% |
| 1945 |
— |
18,093 |
1.4836% |
| 1946 |
— |
22,035 |
1.4933% |
| 1947 |
— |
24,578 |
1.4724% |
| 1948 |
— |
23,548 |
1.4751% |
| 1949 |
— |
23,585 |
1.4661% |
| 1950 |
— |
23,823 |
1.4796% |
| 1951 |
— |
25,842 |
1.5242% |
| 1952 |
— |
25,917 |
1.4847% |
| 1953 |
— |
25,503 |
1.441% |
| 1954 |
— |
26,160 |
1.4311% |
| 1955 |
— |
26,744 |
1.454% |
| 1956 |
— |
27,406 |
1.451% |
| 1957 |
— |
28,035 |
1.4569% |
| 1958 |
— |
26,662 |
1.4107% |
| 1959 |
— |
26,626 |
1.4014% |
| 1960 |
— |
27,683 |
1.461% |
| 1961 |
— |
26,095 |
1.3822% |
| 1962 |
— |
25,234 |
1.3745% |
| 1963 |
— |
25,241 |
1.4062% |
| 1964 |
— |
24,868 |
1.4128% |
| 1965 |
— |
22,671 |
1.3863% |
| 1966 |
— |
20,829 |
1.3341% |
| 1967 |
— |
19,269 |
1.2697% |
| 1968 |
— |
18,086 |
1.2045% |
| 1969 |
— |
17,552 |
1.1393% |
| 1970 |
— |
16,817 |
1.0567% |
| 1971 |
— |
14,767 |
0.9827% |
| 1972 |
— |
12,334 |
0.9056% |
| 1973 |
— |
10,981 |
0.847% |
| 1974 |
— |
10,147 |
0.7807% |
| 1975 |
— |
9,639 |
0.7501% |
| 1976 |
— |
9,134 |
0.7087% |
| 1977 |
— |
9,456 |
0.7015% |
| 1978 |
— |
9,022 |
0.6711% |
| 1979 |
— |
9,245 |
0.6557% |
| 1980 |
— |
9,614 |
0.6575% |
| 1981 |
— |
9,477 |
0.6447% |
| 1982 |
— |
9,356 |
0.6261% |
| 1983 |
— |
8,969 |
0.6078% |
| 1984 |
— |
8,789 |
0.5908% |
| 1985 |
— |
8,998 |
0.5928% |
| 1986 |
— |
8,451 |
0.5599% |
| 1987 |
— |
8,356 |
0.5476% |
| 1988 |
— |
8,564 |
0.5496% |
| 1989 |
— |
8,556 |
0.5302% |
| 1990 |
— |
8,258 |
0.4982% |
| 1991 |
— |
7,576 |
0.4648% |
| 1992 |
— |
6,731 |
0.4217% |
| 1993 |
— |
6,275 |
0.4025% |
| 1994 |
— |
5,678 |
0.37% |
| 1995 |
— |
5,224 |
0.3466% |
| 1996 |
— |
4,971 |
0.332% |
| 1997 |
— |
4,655 |
0.3147% |
| 1998 |
— |
4,582 |
0.3061% |
| 1999 |
— |
4,281 |
0.2859% |
| 2000 |
— |
4,141 |
0.2711% |
| 2001 |
— |
3,900 |
0.2588% |
| 2002 |
— |
3,658 |
0.2441% |
| 2003 |
— |
3,638 |
0.2391% |
| 2004 |
— |
3,412 |
0.2239% |
| 2005 |
— |
3,358 |
0.2196% |
| 2006 |
— |
3,235 |
0.2066% |
| 2007 |
— |
3,100 |
0.1965% |
| 2008 |
— |
2,949 |
0.1908% |
| 2009 |
— |
2,593 |
0.1735% |
| 2010 |
— |
2,420 |
0.1679% |
| 2011 |
— |
2,199 |
0.1543% |
| 2012 |
— |
2,206 |
0.1548% |
| 2013 |
— |
2,162 |
0.1519% |
| 2014 |
— |
2,134 |
0.1465% |
| 2015 |
— |
2,008 |
0.138% |
| 2016 |
— |
1,900 |
0.1318% |
| 2017 |
— |
1,733 |
0.1242% |
| 2018 |
— |
1,642 |
0.1195% |
| 2019 |
— |
1,594 |
0.1177% |
| 2020 |
— |
1,423 |
0.1118% |
| 2021 |
— |
1,335 |
0.1092% |
| 2022 |
— |
1,275 |
0.0966% |
| 2023 |
— |
1,288 |
0.0995% |
District of Columbia (DC)
Data via SSA.gov.
Names Like Kenneth
If you like Kenneth, you’ll love these other names like Kenneth.
What names are diminutives of Kenneth?
A diminutive is a name that’s like Kenneth sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Kenneth, but shorter.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Ken
|
Short form of Kenneth
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English
|
|
|
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Kenny
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“The teacher” from the Anglo-Saxon cennan, to enlighten.
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|
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What names are variants of Kenneth?
Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Kenneth.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Ken
|
Short form of Kenneth
|
English
|
|
|
|
Kennet
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Fire born; good-looking
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Irish
|
|
|
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Kennett
|
Fire born; good-looking
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Irish
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|
|
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Kennith
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Fire born; good-looking
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Irish
|
|
|
|
Kenny
|
“The teacher” from the Anglo-Saxon cennan, to enlighten.
|
|
|
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What names sound like Kenneth?
If you like how Kenneth sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Kenneth.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Kennedy
|
Helmet head
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Irish
|
|
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Kennt
|
Edge
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English
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What names are similar to Kenneth?
Find a name that’s like Kenneth, but just a little bit different.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Kenn
|
Bright water
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Welsh
|
|
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Lists With Kenneth
Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Kenneth.
Siblings of Kenneth
Mamas with kids named Kenneth also have kids with these names.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Jericho
|
City of the moon
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Arabic
|
|
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