Kernis
A male given name of uncertain origin and meaning.
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Kernis. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Kernis today is around 78 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kernis births was 1951 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kernis. 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
- • The typical person named Kernis is about 78 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Kernis' were born before 1958.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Kernis. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1951
6 babies that year
Average age
78
years old
1951 SSA rank
#3,556
Tracked since 1951
Popularity
Kernis: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Kernis 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 Kernis during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Kernis
The given name Kernis is believed to have its origins in ancient Greece, with roots dating back to the 5th century BCE. It is derived from the Greek word "kērinos," which means "made of wax" or "waxen." This connection to wax likely stems from the importance of beeswax in ancient Greek society, where it was used for various purposes, including the creation of writing tablets and seals.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Kernis can be found in the writings of the Greek historian Herodotus, who mentioned a person with this name in his work "The Histories." However, details about this individual's life and significance are scarce.
During the Byzantine era, which spanned from the 4th to the 15th century CE, the name Kernis gained popularity among Greek Christians. It is believed that some families adopted this name as a way to honor the practice of beeswax candle-making, which played a significant role in religious ceremonies and rituals.
In the 12th century, a renowned scholar and philosopher named Kernis Akropolites lived in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). He was known for his contributions to the field of logic and his works on Aristotelian philosophy. Akropolites served as a tutor to the Byzantine prince Andronikos II Palaiologos and played a crucial role in the intellectual life of the empire.
During the Renaissance period, a Greek painter named Kernis Tzanfournaris (1510-1586) gained recognition for his religious artworks and frescoes adorning churches in various parts of Greece and Italy. His works were characterized by their vivid colors and intricate details, reflecting the artistic traditions of the time.
Another notable figure bearing the name Kernis was a Greek revolutionary named Kernis Karaiskakis (1782-1827). He played a significant role in the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire and was renowned for his military tactics and leadership skills. Karaiskakis is celebrated as a national hero in Greece.
While the name Kernis has its roots in ancient Greek culture, it has also been adopted and adapted by various other cultures and languages over the centuries. However, its origins and historical significance remain closely tied to the Greek heritage and the symbolic importance of beeswax in that ancient civilization.
People
Kernis + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kernis 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
Kernis: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kernis?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kernis 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 85,688,585 US residents.
Is Kernis a common name?
We classify Kernis as "Very Rare". It ranks above 6.2% 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 Kernis most popular?
The single biggest year for Kernis was 1951, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kernis is about 78 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 Kernis in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kernis a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kernis 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 Kernis still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kernis 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 Kernis 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 are named Kernis?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.