Given name & surname · also Scottish Gaelic, Irish Gaelic
Kennedy
“a helmeted chief”
Kennedy is used as a given name and a surname. One interpretation is “a helmeted chief.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One interpretation is “a helmeted chief.”
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with Irish Gaelic and Scottish Gaelic naming traditions.
How it developed
From Irish Ó Cinnéidigh, from Scottish Gaelic Ceannaideach, built from Irish ceann (“head”) + éidigh (“ugly”).
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1912. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kennedy through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 101,120
- 7,457 boys · 93,663 girls
- Most popular year
- 2015
- 4,688 babies
- 2025
- 3,019
- #85 for girls · #1,842 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −21%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 3% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 2,933 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 85 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 20.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 4,523 in 2015. It also appeared in 86 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (262). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 77,115 as a first name in 2020; 171,457 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.
Kennedy’s family of names
In English usage, Kennedy has a related form in Kennedi. Kennedy has a related form in Kennedi. Kennedy is an English adaptation of Irish.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Kennedy has relatives in 4 languages. Lines run from its Irish roots to each of them.
6 related names in 4 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 21
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Kennedy
- Kennedy MweeneZambian footballerborn 1984
- Kennedy BakirciogluSwedish association football playerborn 1980
- RockwellAmerican musicianborn 1964
- Kennedy McMannAmerican actressborn 1996
- Kennedy BladesAmerican wrestler (born 2003)
- Kennedy McKinneyboxerborn 1966
- Kennedy IgboananikeNigerian footballerborn 1989
- Kennedy SimmondsPrime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevisborn 1936
- Kennedy AgyapongGhanaian politicianborn 1960
Characters named Kennedy: Kennedy (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kennedy, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Palmer
“a pilgrim bearing a palm branch”
19% boys · 81% girls
Paige
“a young assistant” · “a man from the country”
>99% girls
Blair
“from the field of battle”
6% boys · 94% girls
Ainsley
“one's own meadow”
1% boys · 99% girls
Taylor
“cutter of cloth; one who alters garments” · “one who alters garments”
21% boys · 79% girls
Mackenzie
Mackenzie is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “daughter of a wise leader; a fiery woman; one who is fair” and “the son of a wise leader; a fiery man; one who is fair”. These may reflect different naming traditions.
3% boys · 97% girls
Kendall
“from the royal valley”
15% boys · 85% girls
Kenzie
“one who is fair; lightskinned”
1% boys · 99% girls