A 1910s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Kennis since 1917
Babies named Kennis per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1961, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Kennis's real moment was 1917.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 0 | 7 |
| 1920s | 0 | 13 |
| 1930s | 0 | 36 |
| 1940s | 0 | 53 |
| 1950s | 0 | 77 |
| 1960s | 0 | 95 |
| 1970s | 0 | 75 |
| 1980s | 0 | 66 |
| 1990s | 0 | 52 |
| 2000s | 43 | 46 |
| 2010s | 33 | 34 |
| 2020s | 0 | 6 |
Meaning & origin
Kennis is a rare, unisex name first recorded in the United States in 1917. It has never appeared in any Social Security Administration ranking, reflecting its extreme rarity. The name's peak year of usage was 1917 itself, the year it first entered the records. In recent years, Kennis has shown a slight upward trend since 2022, suggesting a possible revival from the 1910s. With no top states or notable bearers, Kennis remains a distinctive choice for parents seeking an obscure, modern-sounding name. Its etymology is uncertain, and it may be a variant of Ken or a surname adaptation.
Kennis is a rare given name of uncertain derivation. It may have emerged as a variant of Ken, itself a short form of Kenneth (Scottish, meaning 'born of fire') or a surname (from Irish or Dutch). Alternatively, it could be a modern coinage using the popular -is suffix. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1917 but has never achieved widespread usage.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ken, Kenny
Sibling names for Kennis
Names that share Kennis's style, for a brother or sister.
