Given name & surname
Kennan
“a small woman”·“of an ancient family”
Kennan is a variant of Keenan. Interpretations include “a small woman” (Irish) and “of an ancient family”. These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Kennan is a variant of Keenan. Interpretations include “a small woman” (Irish) and “of an ancient family”. These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Kennan is a variant of Keenan. An origin associated with Keenan is Irish.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1952. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kennan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,276
- 1,223 boys · 53 girls
- Most popular year
- 2000
- 46 babies
- 2025
- 13
- #6,648 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −30%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 13 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 6,648 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 25.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 41 in 2004. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,157 as a first name in 2020; 476 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Kennan’s family of names
Kennan has a related form in Keenan. In English usage, Kennan as a surname has a conventional equivalent in the Russian form Кеннан.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Kennan
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kennan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Keegan
“small and fiery woman” · “a small and fiery man”
90% boys · 10% girls
Quentin
“the fifth-born child”
>99% boys
Brendan
“born to royalty; a prince”
>99% boys
Duncan
“a dark warrior”
>99% boys
Quinton
“from the queen's town or settlement”
>99% boys
Kolby
“a dark-haired man”
84% boys · 16% girls
Kellen
“a slender, beautiful, and powerful woman” · “one who is slender”
97% boys · 3% girls
Collin
“high” · “of the victorious people”
99% boys · 1% girls