Kenna Girl

Popularity: #602 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KEN-uh //ˈkɛnə//

Origin: Irish; Scottish

Meaning: Irish: 'born of fire'; Scottish: 'fair, white'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Kenna is believed to have Gaelic origins, derived from the Irish name "Cionna" or the Scottish Gaelic "Ceann" which translates to "head" or "chief." This etymology suggests a meaning associated with leadership or prominence. The name likely entered the English language through the influence of Gaelic-speaking populations in Scotland and Ireland, particularly during the medieval period when the Gaelic culture was prominent in these regions.

As English speakers encountered Gaelic names, many were adapted and incorporated into English vernacular, leading to the emergence of names like Kenna. Historically, the name Kenna has been associated with various figures in Gaelic folklore and history, although specific notable individuals are less documented compared to more widely recognized names.

The use of Kenna as a given name can be traced back to the 19th century, coinciding with a broader interest in Gaelic culture and heritage during the Romantic period. This era saw a revival of interest in Celtic languages and names, as well as a growing appreciation for the cultural narratives tied to these identities.

Culturally, Kenna resonates with themes of strength and leadership, reflecting its etymological roots. The name may also evoke a sense of connection to nature and the landscape of Ireland and Scotland, where many Gaelic names are derived from geographical features or natural elements.

The diminutive form "Kenny" has also been associated with the name, though it is more commonly recognized as a standalone name. Overall, Kenna embodies a rich linguistic heritage that highlights the interplay between language, culture, and identity throughout history.

Famous people named Kenna

In this section, you will find notable people named Kenna. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Kenna who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Kenna who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Kenna is a musician best known for his songs 'Freetime,' 'Hell Bent,' and 'Loose Ends.'.

Kenna is a singer-songwriter best known for his unique blend of rock, electronic, and R&B music.

Fictional characters named Kenna

The following list of fictional characters named Kenna is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Kenna is a fictional character from the novel The Last Letter. She is a young woman navigating love and loss while dealing with the complexities of her past.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Kenna, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Kenna. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Kenna was first seen in the United States in 1915.

Kenna has ranked as high as #1233 nationally, which occurred in 2016, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Ohio, Florida, and Missouri.

In the past 5 years the name Kenna has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Kenna is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Kenna was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Kenna.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 362 5 357
2024 389 0 389
2023 383 6 377
2022 437 7 430
2021 414 8 406
2020 425 9 416
2019 436 0 436
2018 434 8 426
2017 404 0 404
2016 455 11 444
2015 429 7 422
2014 329 0 329
2013 259 6 253
2012 309 10 299
2011 323 7 316
2010 327 9 318
2009 378 0 378
2008 335 0 335
2007 348 5 343
2006 289 0 289
2005 293 0 293
2004 320 0 320
2003 301 0 301
2002 286 0 286
2001 239 0 239
2000 215 0 215
1999 205 0 205
1998 192 5 187
1997 171 0 171
1996 156 0 156
1995 140 0 140
1994 129 0 129
1993 104 0 104
1992 107 9 98
1991 107 0 107
1990 112 0 112
1989 102 0 102
1988 105 0 105
1987 81 0 81
1986 81 0 81
1985 107 10 97
1984 85 0 85
1983 66 0 66
1982 80 0 80
1981 78 6 72
1980 72 0 72
1979 65 5 60
1978 64 0 64
1977 85 0 85
1976 64 0 64
1975 73 0 73
1974 73 0 73
1973 77 0 77
1972 87 8 79
1971 81 0 81
1970 79 0 79
1969 71 0 71
1968 67 0 67
1967 56 5 51
1966 59 0 59
1965 68 0 68
1964 88 0 88
1963 78 0 78
1962 66 0 66
1961 69 0 69
1960 73 7 66
1959 69 7 62
1958 59 0 59
1957 71 5 66
1956 79 11 68
1955 56 0 56
1954 55 5 50
1953 43 0 43
1952 39 0 39
1951 53 6 47
1950 31 0 31
1949 44 6 38
1948 39 5 34
1947 26 0 26
1946 28 0 28
1945 25 0 25
1944 39 8 31
1943 25 0 25
1942 17 0 17
1941 17 0 17
1940 21 9 12
1939 11 0 11
1938 11 0 11
1937 8 0 8
1936 6 0 6
1935 7 0 7
1934 14 7 7
1931 6 0 6
1930 7 0 7
1929 5 0 5
1925 5 5 0
1924 10 5 5
1922 6 6 0
1915 7 7 0

Top States for Kenna (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
FL 30
9%
TX 25
7%
PA 24
7%
CA 23
7%
OH 23
7%
MN 14
4%
MI 14
4%
VA 12
3%
WA 12
3%
WI 12
3%
TN 12
3%
IL 10
3%
NC 10
3%
NE 9
3%
OK 9
3%
MO 9
3%
IN 9
3%
AZ 8
2%
KY 8
2%
NY 8
2%
MA 8
2%
IA 8
2%
GA 7
2%
SD 7
2%
AR 6
2%
KS 6
2%
UT 6
2%
MS 6
2%
LA 5
1%
SC 5
1%
AL 5
1%