What does the name Kennedy mean?

Kennedy means helmeted chief; ugly head. From Gaelic Cinnéidigh.

Where does the name Kennedy come from?

Kennedy is a girl name of Irish origin.

Is Kennedy a boy or a girl name?

Kennedy is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 92% of children given the name Kennedy are girls and 8% are boys.

How popular is the name Kennedy in 2023?

Kennedy ranks #72 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2015 with 4,688 babies.

How do you pronounce Kennedy?

Kennedy is pronounced KEN-eh-dee (3 syllables).

A name from Irish · Girl

Kennedy

Helmeted chief; ugly head. From Gaelic Cinnéidigh.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 111-year arc in numbers.

87,840 U.S. births recorded from 1912–2023.

Popularity · 1912–2023

3,180 births in 2023

1912 1967 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

KHelmeted chief; ugly head. From Gaelic Cinnéidigh.

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Kennedy.

K
Kennedy (political family)

Quick answers

People often ask about Kennedy.

What does the name Kennedy mean?: Kennedy means helmeted chief; ugly head. From Gaelic Cinnéidigh.
Where does the name Kennedy come from?: Kennedy is a girl name of Irish origin.
Is Kennedy a boy or a girl name?: Kennedy is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 92% of children given the name Kennedy are girls and 8% are boys.
How popular is the name Kennedy in 2023?: Kennedy ranks #72 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2015 with 4,688 babies.
How do you pronounce Kennedy?: Kennedy is pronounced KEN-eh-dee (3 syllables).

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.