Holding steady.
Popularity of Kenita since 1954
Babies named Kenita per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 22 |
| 1960s | 26 |
| 1970s | 128 |
| 1980s | 144 |
| 1990s | 34 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Kenita is a rare American given name with an unclear origin, first appearing in Social Security records in 1954. Its peak usage came in 1979, during a period when many inventive feminine names with suffixes like -ita and -isha were popular. Since then, its usage has declined sharply, and today it is extremely uncommon. The name has never been ranked in the top 1,000 nationally, reflecting its niche appeal. Despite its obscurity, Kenita fits a recognizable pattern of modern coinages from the mid-20th century, particularly those influenced by African American naming traditions. Its stability in recent decades suggests it is used sparingly but not entirely forgotten.
Kenita appears to be a modern invented name, likely formed from the popular prefix Ken- (as in Kenneth or Kenisha) combined with the fashionable -ita suffix. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1954 and gained modest usage in the 1970s, peaking in 1979. Its precise derivation is unclear, but it fits a pattern of American coinages from the mid-20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Keni, Nita, Kenny
Sibling names for Kenita
Names that share Kenita's style, for a brother or sister.
