Kenneth
How to say it: KEN-ith · /ˈkɛnɪθ/
Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic 'Coinneach', meaning 'handsome' or 'born of fire'.
Kenneth was the 306th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 1,148 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1940s, its births are down about 43% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #375 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #306 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 1,148 |
| Share of births | 1 in 2,887 |
| Peak decade | 1940s |
| Change over 10 years | −43% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #375 |
| In France, 2025 | #2,436 among boys’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Long established before its high in the 1940s, Kenneth has faded steadily since. Now far below that peak, it looks set to slip further.
What goes with it
Crisp consonants soften into a breathy finish. Ronald and Douglas share its style.
Middle names that flow with Kenneth →
Parents who love Kenneth also love
Nicknames
- Ken
- Kenny
- Kent
Honouring a Kenneth in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Kenneth is about 1 in 121.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Danish, English, Finnish, French, Norwegian, Swedish.
In France: #2,436 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Kenneth
- Kenneth Branagh (born 1960)British actor and filmmaker
- Kenneth Kaunda (1924–2021)First president of Zambia
- Kenneth Arrow (1921–2017)American economist
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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