Keenan first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Keenan has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Keenan

Of Irish origin, meaning "ancient" or "born of fire".

Popularity of Keenan by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Keenan is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 98% of people named Keenan being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 186 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Keenan.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 186 0
2022 180 0
2021 204 0
2020 214 0
2019 226 0
2018 229 5
2017 233 0
2016 273 0
2015 227 0
2014 278 0
2013 209 0
2012 237 11
2011 263 6
2010 300 7
2009 310 0
2008 317 5
2007 364 8
2006 394 0
2005 381 8
2004 382 9
2003 382 0
2002 364 9
2001 377 7
2000 411 10
1999 446 5
1998 492 6
1997 717 9
1996 595 11
1995 623 13
1994 590 12
1993 613 6
1992 651 16
1991 667 18
1990 592 14
1989 395 10
1988 333 5
1987 289 10
1986 274 5
1985 272 10
1984 212 5
1983 225 13
1982 171 11
1981 167 11
1980 181 8
1979 146 13
1978 131 6
1977 115 0
1976 128 0
1975 126 0
1974 113 5

The history of the first name Keenan

The name Keenan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name Cionaodh, which means "ancient" or "born of fire." It has its roots in ancient Celtic culture and was commonly used in Ireland during the early medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Keenan can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In the 9th century, a man named Cionaodh mac Scannláin is mentioned as the King of Uí Fiachrach Aidne, a medieval Irish kingdom.

The name gained popularity in the Christian tradition, as it was borne by several Irish saints and religious figures. Saint Cionaodh of Inis Endaimh, who lived in the 6th century, was a renowned Irish monk and is celebrated in the Irish martyrologies.

Throughout history, the name has been associated with notable individuals. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Cionaodh Ó hArtacáin (c. 950–1031), an Irish poet and scholar from County Roscommon. Another famous Keenan was Cionaodh Ó Muirchertaigh (c. 1140–1224), a medieval Irish poet and historian from County Mayo.

In more recent times, notable individuals with the name Keenan include:

  1. Keenan Wynn (1916–1986), an American character actor known for his roles in films like "Dr. Strangelove" and "Nashville."
  2. Keenan Ivory Wayans (born 1958), an American actor, comedian, and writer, best known as the creator of the popular sketch comedy show "In Living Color."
  3. Keenan Allen (born 1992), an American football wide receiver who plays for the Los Angeles Chargers in the National Football League (NFL).
  4. Keenan Cahill (born 1995), an American internet celebrity and lip-sync artist, known for his popular YouTube videos.
  5. Keenan Lewis (born 1986), a former American football cornerback who played in the NFL for teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints.

While the name Keenan has its roots in ancient Irish culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and has been adopted by people from diverse backgrounds, continuing to be a popular choice for parents around the world.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Keenan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Keenan, please contact us.

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Keenan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/keenan-meaning-and-history/.

"Keenan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/keenan-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Keenan first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/keenan-meaning-and-history/.

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