Fun Facts About the Name Kes
- 38 babies named Kes: U.S. records list 38 babies given the name Kes from 1880 through 2025. Even 5 boys received the name Kes - about 1 boy for every 7 girls.
What Does the Name Kes Mean?
Kes is mostly a short form rather than a name with a single ancient root, so its meaning depends on the longer name it shortens. In Dutch, Kes is a pet form of Cornelis (and of the feminine Cornelia), which descends from the Latin family name Cornelius. The meaning of that Roman name is not settled; it is often connected to Latin cornu, "horn," but this is a traditional explanation rather than a proven one.
In English, particularly in Britain, Kes is used as a familiar form of Keziah, a Hebrew name (Qetsi'ah) commonly translated "cassia," a fragrant spice named in the Bible. These two origins are independent: a Dutch Kes and an English Kes do not share a source, and their identical spelling is coincidental.
Kes Name History & Origins
The Dutch Kes fits the long habit of reducing given names to one syllable, the same pattern that produced Kees and Cees from Cornelis. Kes is found in the Netherlands as a given name in its own right, generally understood as an affectionate shortening of Cornelis or Cornelia rather than a separate creation.
In Britain, Kes appears as a shortened form of Keziah, a biblical name that Protestant families used from the 1600s onward. The name became widely familiar through Barry Hines's 1968 novel A Kestrel for a Knave and Ken Loach's 1969 film Kes, in which Kes is the name of a boy's kestrel. That is a literary and cinematic use of the word as a bird's name; it stands apart from the earlier use of Kes as a personal name.
How Popular is the Name Kes?
Kes has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2000. Its best rank was #8,295 in 2000.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #8,295 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1999 | #15,644 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #14,922 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #14,644 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1995 | #12,554 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | #13,217 | 5 | 0.0003% |
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.
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with K
Short Girl Names That Start with K
How the Name Kes 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.
Position and social status is very important for you and you are always looking for way to improve your position in society. You have power and ability to chose your own destiny and achieve anything you want in life. You can expand in any direction according to your will and the set of values. You have passion for justice and belong to the position of authority. You have an inherent courage and endurance to accomplish "The Impossible Dream". With the power comes responsibility. You hold keys to the material world, but with this gift comes high spiritual responsibility to be fair and true to others. You are philosophical and mature, determined and intense with a desire to endure, often religious.
✦ Kes's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Kes's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.