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

Popularity of Kenny by gender

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

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 160 male babies and 9 female babies born with the name Kenny.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 9 baby girls were named Kenny in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Kenny

The name Kenny is believed to have originated as a diminutive form of the Irish name Cainneach, which is derived from the Gaelic word "cain" meaning "handsome" or "bright." The name Cainneach is believed to date back to the 6th century and is associated with Saint Cainnech, one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland.

The diminutive form Kenny emerged in the Middle Ages and was commonly used in Ireland and Scotland. It was particularly popular among families with Scottish or Irish heritage, and it eventually spread to other parts of the English-speaking world.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Kenny can be found in the Irish Annals of the Four Masters, which mention a person named "Cennedig" in the 9th century. Another early reference is found in the Book of Leinster, a 12th-century medieval Irish manuscript, which mentions a person named "Cennetig."

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the name Kenny. One of the earliest was Kenny MacAiden (c. 1200 - c. 1270), a Scottish nobleman and military leader who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence against the English. Another notable figure was Kenny O'Daly (c. 1318 - c. 1380), an Irish poet and bard who wrote extensively in the Gaelic language.

In more recent times, the name has been borne by several famous individuals, including Kenny Everett (1944 - 1995), a British comedian and radio personality known for his innovative and irreverent humor. There was also Kenny Rogers (1938 - 2020), an American singer and actor famous for his country music hits and his role in the film "The Gambler."

Other notable individuals with the name Kenny include Kenny Dalglish (born 1951), a Scottish football player and manager who led Liverpool FC to numerous victories in the 1970s and 1980s, and Kenny Loggins (born 1948), an American singer-songwriter known for hits like "Footloose" and "Danger Zone."

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

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

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