Kennedy Unisex
Origin(s)
PronunciationKEN-uh-dee / /ˈkɛnədi/Irish; Gaelic
Meaning
Irish: 'descendant of the handsome one'; Gaelic: 'helmeted chief'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Kennedy has roots in Irish and Gaelic traditions, often associated with nobility and leadership. It gained prominence in the 20th century, particularly due to the Kennedy family in American politics. The name has been used for both boys and girls, though it is more commonly given to girls in recent years.
Trend Summary
Kennedy has seen fluctuating popularity in the U.S., often ranking within the top 100 names for girls and less frequently for boys.
Similar Names
Variants
- Kenny
International Variants
- Kenedie (English)
Famous people named Kennedy
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Fictional characters named Kennedy
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Sibling Suggestions
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Kennedy was first seen in the United States in 1912. Kennedy has ranked as high as #900 nationally, which occurred in 1964, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, and New York. In the past 5 years the name Kennedy has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
Top States for Kennedy (2024)
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| GA | 11 | |
| CA | 10 | |
| TX | 8 | |
| FL | 7 | |
| TN | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 1912 | 5 |
| 1914 | 8 |
| 1915 | 7 |
| 1916 | 11 |
| 1917 | 12 |
| 1918 | 8 |
| 1920 | 8 |
| 1921 | 14 |
| 1922 | 11 |
| 1923 | 6 |
| 1924 | 11 |
| 1925 | 8 |
| 1926 | 8 |
| 1927 | 8 |
| 1928 | 9 |
| 1929 | 8 |
| 1930 | 19 |
| 1931 | 6 |
| 1934 | 10 |
| 1935 | 6 |
| 1937 | 6 |
| 1938 | 5 |
| 1939 | 10 |
| 1940 | 9 |
| 1942 | 6 |
| 1943 | 5 |
| 1944 | 19 |
| 1945 | 9 |
| 1946 | 11 |
| 1947 | 22 |
| 1948 | 6 |
| 1949 | 15 |
| 1950 | 13 |
| 1951 | 19 |
| 1952 | 12 |
| 1953 | 19 |
| 1954 | 19 |
| 1955 | 21 |
| 1956 | 16 |
| 1957 | 25 |
| 1958 | 21 |
| 1959 | 21 |
| 1960 | 117 |
| 1961 | 177 |
| 1962 | 86 |
| 1963 | 159 |
| 1964 | 229 |
| 1965 | 121 |
| 1966 | 87 |
| 1967 | 63 |
| 1968 | 56 |
| 1969 | 33 |
| 1970 | 42 |
| 1971 | 35 |
| 1972 | 19 |
| 1973 | 17 |
| 1974 | 22 |
| 1975 | 21 |
| 1976 | 26 |
| 1977 | 21 |
| 1978 | 22 |
| 1979 | 25 |
| 1980 | 20 |
| 1981 | 27 |
| 1982 | 28 |
| 1983 | 41 |
| 1984 | 59 |
| 1985 | 49 |
| 1986 | 49 |
| 1987 | 53 |
| 1988 | 59 |
| 1989 | 79 |
| 1990 | 72 |
| 1991 | 60 |
| 1992 | 88 |
| 1993 | 82 |
| 1994 | 142 |
| 1995 | 159 |
| 1996 | 169 |
| 1997 | 185 |
| 1998 | 152 |
| 1999 | 165 |
| 2000 | 160 |
| 2001 | 185 |
| 2002 | 195 |
| 2003 | 170 |
| 2004 | 183 |
| 2005 | 173 |
| 2006 | 179 |
| 2007 | 153 |
| 2008 | 166 |
| 2009 | 150 |
| 2010 | 159 |
| 2011 | 125 |
| 2012 | 164 |
| 2013 | 154 |
| 2014 | 158 |
| 2015 | 165 |
| 2016 | 171 |
| 2017 | 140 |
| 2018 | 126 |
| 2019 | 135 |
| 2020 | 142 |
| 2021 | 104 |
| 2022 | 104 |
| 2023 | 104 |
| 2024 | 95 |