Kenneth: name meaning, origin & popularity
- Meaning
- “born of fire”
- Origin
- Scottish Gaelic
- Say it
- KEN-ith · 2 syllables
- Used for
- Boys
Usually linked to Scottish Gaelic Coinneach, later associated with Cináed/Kenneth; the exact etymological history is complex. The commonly cited meaning is 'born of fire'.
How popular is Kenneth?
Babies named Kenneth in 20241,186
2024 rank#284 boys
Peak year1951
Total US babies since 18801,288,147
Kenneth is fading: recent use is about 65% of its level ten years before.
Names like Kenneth
Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.
Kenneth questions
What does the name Kenneth mean?
Kenneth means "born of fire". It comes from Scottish Gaelic. Usually linked to Scottish Gaelic Coinneach, later associated with Cináed/Kenneth; the exact etymological history is complex. The commonly cited meaning is 'born of fire'.
Is Kenneth a boy or girl name?
Kenneth is mainly a boy's name in US records (100% of uses since 1880).
How popular is Kenneth?
1,186 US babies were named Kenneth in 2024. Its peak year was 1951.
How do you pronounce Kenneth?
Kenneth is usually pronounced KEN-ith.
Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.