Kendrew

Meaning & origin

Kendrew is a modern American name that first appeared on the U.S. baby name charts in 1991, during the era of creative name coinages. It has never achieved widespread popularity; its peak year was 1999, after which its usage remained stable at very low levels. In 2025, it ranked 8,910th among boys, with just 1 in 213,510 newborns receiving the name. The name likely emerged from the trend of blending or respelling familiar names like Andrew or using the common prefix 'Ken' (as in Kendall or Kennedy) with the popular nickname Drew. Despite its low frequency, Kendrew has maintained a consistent presence for over three decades, reflecting the appeal of unique, tailored names among a small subset of parents. Unlike many modern names, it has no strong association with any particular state or region.

Kendrew is a rare given name that first appeared in the United States in the early 1990s. It may be a creative respelling of the name Andrew, following the trend of using the common nickname 'Ken' as a prefix, or it could be a modern invention derived from a surname. Its usage remains uncommon, with no clear historical or linguistic roots in any established naming tradition.