Kenedi
A feminine name of Celtic origin meaning "ugly head".
Name Census estimates that about 999 living Americans carry the first name Kenedi. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Kenedi today is around 18 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kenedi births was 2007 (59 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kenedi. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
999
~ 1 in 343,097 Americans
Peak year
2007
59 babies that year
Average age
18
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,497
Tracked since 1994
Popularity
Kenedi: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kenedi from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 444 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kenedi by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Kenedi during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Kenedis live
The SSA's state-level files cover 6 states and territories. Texas, Georgia, California recorded the most babies named Kenedi, while North Carolina, Illinois, Michigan recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 26 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Kenedi
The name Kenedi is a modern variant of the more traditional Kennedy, which has its origins in the Gaelic language of Ireland and Scotland. The name is derived from the words "ceann" meaning head or chief, and "eidigh" meaning armored or skilled. This suggests the name was likely used to refer to a leader or skilled warrior in ancient Celtic societies.
The earliest recorded use of the name Kennedy dates back to the 11th century, with references to the Cennetig clan in Scotland. This noble family was prominent in the region of Carrick, Ayrshire, and later played a significant role in Scottish history. One notable bearer of the name was Robert Kennedy, a 13th century Scottish nobleman who fought alongside Robert the Bruce in the Wars of Scottish Independence.
In Ireland, the name Kennedy is associated with the O'Kennedys, a prominent family from County Tipperary. The earliest known member of this family was Giolla Cennedig Ó Cendubáin, who lived in the late 12th century. The O'Kennedys were influential in the region and held important positions within the Church and local government.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Kennedy. One of the most famous was John F. Kennedy (1917-1963), the 35th President of the United States. His assassination in 1963 marked a turning point in American history. Other prominent figures include Robert F. Kennedy (1925-1968), a U.S. Senator and Attorney General who was assassinated during his presidential campaign, and Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. (1888-1969), a successful businessman and patriarch of the Kennedy family.
Beyond politics, the name has also been associated with notable figures in various fields. Edward M. Kennedy (1932-2009) was a long-serving U.S. Senator and a prominent voice in the Democratic Party. Walter Kennedy (1912-1977) was an American lawyer and sports executive who served as the second commissioner of the National Basketball Association. Nigel Kennedy (born 1956) is a renowned British violinist and violist known for his innovative interpretations of classical works.
While the name Kenedi is a modern variation, it retains the rich history and heritage of its Celtic roots, carrying the legacy of a name once borne by noble families, skilled warriors, and influential leaders across Ireland and Scotland.
People
Kenedi + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kenedi as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kenedi: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kenedi?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 999 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kenedi going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 343,097 US residents.
Is Kenedi a common name?
We classify Kenedi as "Very Rare". It ranks above 90.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,013 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kenedi most popular?
The single biggest year for Kenedi was 2007, when 59 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kenedi is about 18 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Kenedi a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kenedi in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.