Kennell
A variant form of the name Kenneth, of English origin meaning "handsome".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Kennell. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Kennell today is around 44 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kennell births was 1979 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kennell. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Kennell. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
1979
6 babies that year
Average age
44
years old
1979 SSA rank
#5,738
Tracked since 1979
Popularity
Kennell: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Kennell 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 Kennell during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Kennell
The given name Kennell has its origins rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon language of England. Derived from the Old English word "cennan," which means "to give birth" or "to beget," Kennell was initially used as a surname for those who worked as midwives or assisted in childbirth. Over time, the name transitioned into a masculine given name, retaining its connection to the concept of birth and new beginnings.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kennell can be traced back to the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical record mentions a landowner named Kenell, who held property in the county of Somerset. The name's spelling varied, with variations such as Kenell, Kenyll, and Kenill appearing in various medieval documents.
In the 12th century, a notable figure named Kennell of Faversham lived in the town of Faversham, Kent. He was a renowned scholar and theologian who authored several treatises on religious subjects. His works were widely circulated and studied in monastic circles during that period.
Moving forward to the 16th century, Kennell Digby was a respected English courtier and diplomat who served under Queen Elizabeth I. Born in 1550, he played a crucial role in negotiating peace treaties and fostering diplomatic relationships with other European nations.
In the 18th century, Kennell Haviland, a skilled potter and ceramist, made significant contributions to the English ceramic industry. Born in 1719, he founded the renowned Haviland porcelain company, which produced exquisite tableware and decorative pieces that were highly sought after by aristocratic families.
Another notable bearer of the name was Kennell Macaulay, a Scottish historian and philosopher born in 1763. His seminal work, "History of England," published in the early 19th century, was widely praised for its literary style and comprehensive analysis of English history.
While the name Kennell may have faded in popularity over the centuries, it continues to carry a rich historical legacy, reminding us of its ancient roots and the diverse figures who have borne this distinctive moniker throughout the ages.
People
Kennell + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kennell 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
Kennell: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kennell?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kennell 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 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Kennell a common name?
We classify Kennell as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kennell most popular?
The single biggest year for Kennell was 1979, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kennell is about 44 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Kennell in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kennell a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kennell in the SSA data are male. 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.
Is Kennell still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kennell in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Kennell can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Kennell as a first name?
If you just want to know how many people share the name Kennell, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.