Fun Facts About the Name Kennedy
- Gaining ground: Kennedy remained in the U.S. top 100 for 15 consecutive years, from 2011 through 2025. In 2025, it gained 4 ranking positions compared with the previous year.
- More than 101 thousand babies named Kennedy: U.S. records list 101,099 babies given the name Kennedy from 1880 through 2025. Even 7,454 boys received the name Kennedy - about 1 boy for every 13 girls.
What Does the Name Kennedy Mean?
Kennedy is the English form of the Irish surname Ó Cinnéide, which means "descendant of Cinnéidigh." Cinnéidigh was a personal name or byname built from the Irish ceann, "head," plus a second element usually linked to éideadh, "armor" or "clothing," giving the common interpretation "helmeted head" or "armored head." Some sources instead connect the second element to a word meaning "ugly," giving "misshapen head" or "ugly head." The exact sense of that second element is not settled. Kennedy began as a family name, not a first name, and entered given-name use only through the surname.
Kennedy Name History & Origins
The Ó Cinnéide were a ruling family in the Ormond area of County Tipperary, in the south of Ireland, and the surname is tied closely to that region. As Gaelic surnames were anglicized under English administration, the name appears in records in forms such as O'Kennedy, Kennedy, and Kennedie. A separate Kennedy surname grew up in Scotland, in Carrick in Ayrshire, where the Kennedys of Dunure held land; that Scottish name is generally traced to the same Gaelic personal name, though the connection is not certain. The name traveled with Irish and Scottish emigrants to North America and elsewhere, and it also came into use as a given name for both boys and girls, particularly in the United States. In that given-name use it is associated with the Kennedy family of Massachusetts, including President John F. Kennedy.
How Popular is the Name Kennedy?
Kennedy recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2015. Kennedy entered the top 100 U.S. girl names in 2011.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #85 | 2,933 | 0.1825% |
| 2024 | #89 | 2,881 | 0.1786% |
| 2023 | #72 | 3,074 | 0.1918% |
| 2022 | #74 | 3,075 | 0.1876% |
| 2021 | #70 | 3,443 | 0.2100% |
| 2020 | #72 | 3,360 | 0.2080% |
| 2019 | #67 | 3,691 | 0.2200% |
| 2018 | #59 | 3,945 | 0.2320% |
| 2017 | #58 | 4,162 | 0.2412% |
| 2016 | #59 | 4,341 | 0.2450% |
| 2015 | #58 | 4,522 | 0.2534% |
| 2014 | #54 | 4,497 | 0.2518% |
| 2013 | #65 | 3,961 | 0.2258% |
| 2012 | #84 | 3,389 | 0.1925% |
| 2011 | #91 | 3,248 | 0.1847% |
| 2010 | #111 | 2,833 | 0.1594% |
| 2009 | #115 | 2,863 | 0.1559% |
| 2008 | #115 | 2,953 | 0.1562% |
| 2007 | #110 | 3,053 | 0.1588% |
| 2006 | #115 | 2,904 | 0.1528% |
| 2005 | #118 | 2,826 | 0.1529% |
| 2004 | #117 | 2,886 | 0.1572% |
| 2003 | #122 | 2,774 | 0.1518% |
| 2002 | #136 | 2,513 | 0.1399% |
| 2001 | #138 | 2,406 | 0.1336% |
| 2000 | #139 | 2,390 | 0.1316% |
| 1999 | #165 | 1,892 | 0.1067% |
| 1998 | #183 | 1,658 | 0.0938% |
| 1997 | #186 | 1,624 | 0.0933% |
| 1996 | #208 | 1,418 | 0.0809% |
| 1995 | #229 | 1,235 | 0.0702% |
| 1994 | #524 | 473 | 0.0265% |
| 1993 | #1,277 | 134 | 0.0074% |
| 1992 | #2,632 | 47 | 0.0025% |
| 1991 | #3,331 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1990 | #2,983 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 1989 | #3,734 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1988 | #5,171 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1987 | #3,574 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1986 | #4,629 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1985 | #7,245 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #7,063 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1983 | #6,988 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1982 | #7,163 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #11,176 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1979 | #9,517 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1978 | #8,044 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1977 | #10,364 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1975 | #9,755 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1969 | #8,006 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1965 | #6,986 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1963 | #6,205 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #6,560 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,842 | 86 | 0.0050% |
| 2024 | #1,738 | 95 | 0.0055% |
| 2023 | #1,656 | 104 | 0.0061% |
| 2022 | #1,658 | 104 | 0.0060% |
| 2021 | #1,625 | 104 | 0.0059% |
| 2020 | #1,286 | 142 | 0.0082% |
| 2019 | #1,338 | 135 | 0.0075% |
| 2018 | #1,397 | 126 | 0.0069% |
| 2017 | #1,296 | 140 | 0.0076% |
| 2016 | #1,132 | 171 | 0.0090% |
| 2015 | #1,143 | 165 | 0.0086% |
| 2014 | #1,182 | 158 | 0.0082% |
| 2013 | #1,171 | 154 | 0.0081% |
| 2012 | #1,122 | 164 | 0.0086% |
| 2011 | #1,355 | 125 | 0.0066% |
| 2010 | #1,161 | 159 | 0.0083% |
| 2009 | #1,207 | 150 | 0.0076% |
| 2008 | #1,108 | 166 | 0.0081% |
| 2007 | #1,160 | 153 | 0.0074% |
| 2006 | #1,026 | 179 | 0.0087% |
| 2005 | #998 | 173 | 0.0087% |
| 2004 | #926 | 183 | 0.0092% |
| 2003 | #961 | 170 | 0.0086% |
| 2002 | #853 | 195 | 0.0100% |
| 2001 | #869 | 185 | 0.0095% |
| 2000 | #955 | 160 | 0.0081% |
| 1999 | #907 | 165 | 0.0086% |
| 1998 | #929 | 152 | 0.0080% |
| 1997 | #796 | 185 | 0.0098% |
| 1996 | #840 | 169 | 0.0089% |
| 1995 | #860 | 159 | 0.0084% |
| 1994 | #923 | 142 | 0.0074% |
| 1993 | #1,256 | 82 | 0.0042% |
| 1992 | #1,191 | 88 | 0.0044% |
| 1991 | #1,474 | 60 | 0.0030% |
| 1990 | #1,311 | 72 | 0.0035% |
| 1989 | #1,211 | 79 | 0.0039% |
| 1988 | #1,349 | 59 | 0.0031% |
| 1987 | #1,392 | 53 | 0.0028% |
| 1986 | #1,426 | 49 | 0.0027% |
| 1985 | #1,403 | 49 | 0.0027% |
| 1984 | #1,195 | 59 | 0.0033% |
| 1983 | #1,502 | 41 | 0.0023% |
| 1982 | #1,965 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1981 | #2,019 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1980 | #2,488 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1979 | #2,074 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 1978 | #2,162 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1977 | #2,242 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1976 | #1,904 | 26 | 0.0017% |
| 1975 | #2,170 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1974 | #2,025 | 22 | 0.0014% |
| 1973 | #2,362 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 1972 | #2,122 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1971 | #1,453 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 1970 | #1,286 | 42 | 0.0023% |
| 1969 | #1,404 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1968 | #992 | 56 | 0.0032% |
| 1967 | #912 | 63 | 0.0036% |
| 1966 | #781 | 87 | 0.0049% |
| 1965 | #677 | 121 | 0.0065% |
| 1964 | #518 | 229 | 0.0115% |
| 1963 | #618 | 159 | 0.0078% |
| 1962 | #820 | 86 | 0.0042% |
| 1961 | #593 | 177 | 0.0083% |
| 1960 | #720 | 117 | 0.0055% |
| 1959 | #1,783 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1958 | #1,753 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1957 | #1,608 | 25 | 0.0012% |
| 1956 | #2,049 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1955 | #1,710 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1954 | #1,794 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1953 | #1,800 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1952 | #2,325 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1951 | #1,757 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1950 | #2,156 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1949 | #1,985 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1948 | #3,498 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1947 | #1,627 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1946 | #2,341 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1945 | #2,489 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1944 | #1,609 | 19 | 0.0014% |
| 1943 | #3,802 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1942 | #3,398 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1940 | #2,583 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1939 | #2,362 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1938 | #3,791 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1937 | #3,343 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1935 | #3,458 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1934 | #2,484 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1931 | #3,587 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1930 | #1,731 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1929 | #3,120 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1928 | #2,956 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1927 | #3,308 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1926 | #3,268 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1925 | #3,275 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1924 | #2,746 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1923 | #4,038 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1922 | #2,719 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1921 | #2,316 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1920 | #3,359 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1918 | #3,251 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1917 | #2,356 | 12 | 0.0013% |
| 1916 | #2,472 | 11 | 0.0012% |
| 1915 | #3,235 | 7 | 0.0008% |
| 1914 | #2,544 | 8 | 0.0012% |
| 1912 | #2,736 | 5 | 0.0012% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Kennedy
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Kennedy Shapes Your Personality and Life?
EXTREMES in fortune, health and spirituality. You are very versatile, idealistic and intuitive. You either enjoy great success or suffer abject misery. The solution is service to others. Use your leadership abilities for humanity and not for self-glorification. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Kennedy's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Kennedy's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.