Find out how popular the first name Kenaniah has been for the last 27 years (from 1990 to 2016) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Kenaniah by gender

Based on the last 27 years of data, Kenaniah is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2016, there were 7 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Kenaniah.

The history of the first name Kenaniah

The name Kenaniah has its origins in the Hebrew language. It is a biblical name that can be traced back to ancient Israel during the time of the Old Testament, around the 6th century BCE. The name is derived from the Hebrew words "qanan," meaning "to plant" or "to establish," and "Yah," which is a shortened form of the name of God, Yahweh or Jehovah.

Kenaniah was the name of a Levite mentioned in the Book of Nehemiah, one of the books of the Hebrew Bible. Nehemiah 10:23-24 lists Kenaniah as one of the Levites who sealed a covenant with God during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, after the return of the Israelites from the Babylonian exile.

In the biblical context, the name Kenaniah may have symbolized the idea of being established or rooted in God's ways, reflecting the planting or establishing aspect of its root word "qanan."

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Kenaniah was a Levite mentioned in the Book of Nehemiah, who lived around the 5th century BCE. However, there are other notable individuals throughout history who bore this name.

One such person was Kenaniah ben Hizkiyah, a Hebrew scholar and grammarian who lived in the 11th century CE. He was a prominent figure in the field of Hebrew linguistics and is known for his contributions to the study of the Hebrew language.

Another Kenaniah of historical significance was Kenaniah ben Yosef, a Jewish philosopher and theologian from the 13th century CE. He was active in Spain during the Golden Age of Jewish culture in that region.

In the 17th century, Kenaniah ben Shalom was a Jewish scholar and Kabbalist who lived in Izmir, Ottoman Empire (modern-day Turkey). He authored several works on Jewish mysticism and the Kabbalah.

Lastly, Kenaniah Nagazumi was a Japanese Christian convert and translator who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He played a significant role in the early efforts to translate Christian texts into Japanese and facilitate the spread of Christianity in Japan.

These are just a few examples of individuals named Kenaniah who have left their mark on history, spanning various cultures, time periods, and fields of endeavor.

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 Kenaniah was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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