Kennedy Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Kennedy is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Kennedy?
Kennedy is spelled K-E-N-N-E-D-Y. The name has 7 letters.
Kennedy at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Kennedy derives from the Gaelic elements “ceann” meaning “head” and “éidigh” meaning “ugly” or “helmeted,” commonly interpreted as “helmeted…
- Origin
- Kennedy is associated with Irish and Scottish heritage and is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Ó Cinnéide.
- Pronunciation
- KEN-nuh-dee · 3 syllables
Kennedy Popularity in 2025
Rank#85
Recorded Births2,933
Rank#1,837
Recorded Births86
- Girls usage rose 4 places to #85 and recorded 43 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 113 places to #1,837 and recorded 10 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Kennedy Mean?
Kennedy derives from the Gaelic elements “ceann” meaning “head” and “éidigh” meaning “ugly” or “helmeted,” commonly interpreted as “helmeted head.”
Origin: Kennedy is associated with Irish and Scottish heritage and is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Ó Cinnéide.
How Do You Pronounce Kennedy?
PronunciationKEN-nuh-dee
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Kennedy?
- History
- The name Kennedy has historical ties to Irish clans and has been used as both a surname and a given name in English-speaking countries. It is notably recognized due to prominent individuals bearing the name.
Kennedy Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 2,933 | #85 |
| 2025 | Boys | 86 | #1,837 |
| 2024 | Girls | 2,890 | #89 |
| 2024 | Boys | 96 | #1,724 |
| 2023 | Girls | 3,075 | #72 |
| 2023 | Boys | 105 | #1,640 |
| 2022 | Girls | 3,077 | #74 |
| 2022 | Boys | 104 | #1,652 |
| 2021 | Girls | 3,443 | #70 |
| 2021 | Boys | 104 | #1,621 |
| 2020 | Girls | 3,361 | #72 |
| 2020 | Boys | 142 | #1,286 |
| 2019 | Girls | 3,692 | #67 |
| 2019 | Boys | 135 | #1,337 |
| 2018 | Girls | 3,946 | #59 |
| 2018 | Boys | 126 | #1,396 |
| 2017 | Girls | 4,162 | #58 |
| 2017 | Boys | 140 | #1,293 |
| 2016 | Girls | 4,341 | #59 |
| 2016 | Boys | 171 | #1,130 |
| 2015 | Girls | 4,523 | #58 |
| 2015 | Boys | 165 | #1,141 |
| 2014 | Girls | 4,498 | #54 |
| 2014 | Boys | 158 | #1,179 |
When Was Kennedy Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2015 · Girls
4,523 recorded births
National rank #58
2014 · Girls
4,498 recorded births
National rank #54
2016 · Girls
4,341 recorded births
National rank #59
2017 · Girls
4,162 recorded births
National rank #58
Where Kennedy Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| WY | #31 | 8 |
| NH | #34 | 27 |
| PA | #52 | 155 |
| GA | #54 | 132 |
| NC | #55 | 143 |
| DE | #55 | 12 |
| RI | #56 | 13 |
| MI | #59 | 105 |