MallowbyNames

Kenith

KEN-ith · Born of fire or handsome; of debated origin, possibly a variant of Kenneth.

Peak popularity
1938
Usually for
Boys
Trend
Holding steady

Holding steady.

Popularity of Kenith since 1913

Babies named Kenith per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1963, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Kenith's real moment was 1938.

122537192019602000Most births 1963Boys
Data table (by decade)
DecadeBoys
1910s39
1920s113
1930s193
1940s181
1950s229
1960s296
1970s173
1980s150
1990s120
2000s86
2010s45
2020s5

Meaning & origin

Kenith is a variant spelling of Kenneth, a name of Scottish origin with deep historical roots. While Kenneth has been a consistently popular choice in Scotland and among Scottish diaspora, Kenith has remained a rare alternative. According to Social Security data, the name first appeared in 1913 and reached its peak year in 1938, though it never entered the top 1000 rankings. Since then, its usage has remained stable at very low numbers, with a trajectory that shows no significant revival. Kenith is a quiet name, primarily chosen by parents seeking a distinctive twist on a classic Scottish name like Kenneth.

Kenith is a variant of Kenneth, which is derived from the Scottish Gaelic name Cináed, thought to mean 'born of fire' or 'handsome'. The name Kenneth has been used in Scotland since the Middle Ages, borne by early Scottish kings. Kenith emerged as an alternate spelling in the early 20th century, possibly influenced by phonetic spelling or regional dialects.

Nicknames & variants

Nicknames: Ken, Kenny

Variants: Kenneth, Kenith

Sibling names for Kenith

Names that share Kenith's style, for a brother or sister.

A parent animal hugging its little one, the personalized name page

K is for Kenith, our favorite little boy.

K is for Kenith…”

In a Mallowby alphabet book, Kenith's letter becomes Kenith's page: hand-illustrated, printed hardcover or paperback, made just for them.

Make Kenith's book

Books for siblings or grandkids? The second book is 15% off.

Questions parents ask

What does the name Kenith mean?
Kenith is a variant of Kenneth, meaning 'born of fire' or 'handsome', though its exact origin is debated.
How popular is the name Kenith?
Kenith has never ranked in the top 1000 U.S. baby names. Its peak year was 1938, when it was given to a small number of boys.
Is Kenith a boy or girl name?
Kenith is almost exclusively used for boys.