Holding steady.
Popularity of Kenn since 1938
Babies named Kenn per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1930s | 5 |
| 1940s | 91 |
| 1950s | 183 |
| 1960s | 202 |
| 1970s | 103 |
| 1980s | 81 |
| 1990s | 38 |
| 2000s | 37 |
| 2010s | 16 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Kenn is a rare masculine name that has never appeared in the U.S. top 1000. Its most common period of use was the 1950s, reaching a peak in 1958. The name first appeared in Social Security records in 1938, though it has always been uncommon. As a short form of Kenneth, it shares the Scottish heritage of its longer counterpart. Despite its rarity, Kenn has maintained a low but stable presence in naming records, showing no signs of revival in recent years. It is most often chosen by parents seeking a simple, traditional-sounding name with Scottish roots.
Kenn is primarily a short form of the Scottish name Kenneth, which itself is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic names Cináed and Coinneach. Cináed means 'born of fire', while Coinneach means 'handsome' or 'comely'. As an independent given name, Kenn emerged in the 20th century, particularly in the United States, where it was sometimes used as a standalone name rather than a nickname.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Ken
Sibling names for Kenn
Names that share Kenn's style, for a brother or sister.
