Declining since 1987, #9,714 for boys today.
Popularity of Kennard since 1906
Babies named Kennard per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1954, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Kennard's real moment was 1906.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 125 |
| 1920s | 188 |
| 1930s | 281 |
| 1940s | 267 |
| 1950s | 385 |
| 1960s | 340 |
| 1970s | 246 |
| 1980s | 348 |
| 1990s | 248 |
| 2000s | 153 |
| 2010s | 106 |
| 2020s | 19 |
Meaning & origin
Kennard first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1906, when it reached its peak popularity at rank 9714. Since 1987, its use has declined steadily, reflecting a broader shift away from early 20th century given names. Though never common, with an incidence of about 1 in 244,011 in 2025, it remains a distinctive choice with Scottish and Welsh heritage. The name's trajectory shows a falling trend, suggesting it is unlikely to see a revival soon.
Kennard is a variant of the Scottish name Kenneth, itself from the Gaelic Cináed, possibly meaning 'born of fire'. Alternatively, it may derive from the Welsh name Cynhard, composed of 'cyn' (chief) and 'hard' (strength). As a given name, it saw modest use in the early 20th century before declining.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ken, Kenny
Sibling names for Kennard
Names that share Kennard's style, for a brother or sister.
