Kenneth first name popularity, history and meaning

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

Meaning of Kenneth

A masculine name of Celtic origin meaning "born of fire".

Popularity of Kenneth by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Kenneth is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Kenneth being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,314 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Kenneth.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 1,314 0
2022 1,297 0
2021 1,369 0
2020 1,479 0
2019 1,618 7
2018 1,668 0
2017 1,763 0
2016 1,916 5
2015 2,030 0
2014 2,152 0
2013 2,175 0
2012 2,223 0
2011 2,216 0
2010 2,427 5
2009 2,612 0
2008 2,966 6
2007 3,107 5
2006 3,241 9
2005 3,368 7
2004 3,424 17
2003 3,643 9
2002 3,665 0
2001 3,908 6
2000 4,152 6
1999 4,285 9
1998 4,586 9
1997 4,659 15
1996 4,974 11
1995 5,224 15
1994 5,678 16
1993 6,275 27
1992 6,733 22
1991 7,576 26
1990 8,262 39
1989 8,554 35
1988 8,567 69
1987 8,352 78
1986 8,454 90
1985 8,997 60
1984 8,791 86
1983 8,967 80
1982 9,355 67
1981 9,476 85
1980 9,611 81
1979 9,242 67
1978 9,024 66
1977 9,452 73
1976 9,130 75
1975 9,633 62
1974 10,148 63

The history of the first name Kenneth

The name Kenneth has its origins in the Gaelic language, which was spoken by the Celts in regions of Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man. It is derived from the Gaelic words "ced" meaning "born of fire" and "nath" meaning "something burnt". Together, the name Kenneth is believed to have originally meant "born of fire" or "fire-born".

The earliest recorded use of the name Kenneth dates back to the 6th century, where it was found in ancient Scottish and Irish texts. It is thought that the name was initially associated with royalty or nobility in these regions, as several early Scottish kings bore the name.

One of the most notable historical figures named Kenneth was Kenneth I, who ruled as the King of Scots from 844 to 858 AD. He is credited with bringing together the Picts and Scots, laying the foundation for the Kingdom of Scotland.

Another famous bearer of the name was Kenneth III, who reigned as the King of Scots from 997 to 1005 AD. He was known for his efforts to promote Christianity and establish the Church's influence in Scotland.

In the 12th century, Kenneth Baliol, a Scottish nobleman, played a significant role in the Scottish Wars of Independence against England. He was a prominent supporter of King William the Lion.

In the 16th century, Kenneth Mackenzie, a Scottish nobleman and chief of the Clan Mackenzie, was known for his involvement in the Highland clan wars and his efforts to expand the Mackenzie clan's territory.

Saint Kenneth, also known as Kenneth of Aghaboe, was an Irish monk and abbot who lived in the 6th century. He is revered as the patron saint of the Leinster region in Ireland and is associated with several monasteries and churches.

Throughout history, the name Kenneth has been popular across various cultures and societies, particularly in Scotland, Ireland, England, and parts of North America. Its association with nobility and historical figures has contributed to its enduring popularity over the centuries.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

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!

"Kenneth first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 6, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/kenneth-meaning-and-history/.

"Kenneth first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/kenneth-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 6 December, 2024

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

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.