Holding steady.
Popularity of Kern since 1914
Babies named Kern per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1952, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Kern's real moment was 1919.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 39 |
| 1920s | 53 |
| 1930s | 66 |
| 1940s | 99 |
| 1950s | 150 |
| 1960s | 134 |
| 1970s | 83 |
| 1980s | 49 |
| 1990s | 46 |
| 2000s | 19 |
| 2010s | 6 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Kern is a rare masculine given name that saw modest use in the early 20th century, peaking in 1919 with a rank of 1,627. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1914 and has shown a stable trajectory, with no recorded births in recent decades. Its origin is uncertain but is commonly linked to the Irish surname Kern, an Anglicized form of Ó Ciaráin, meaning 'descendant of Ciarán'. The personal name Ciarán comes from ciar, meaning 'dark' or 'black', and was borne by several early Irish saints. As a given name, Kern likely functioned as a short form or surname transfer. Its rarity and straightforward sound give it a distinctive quality, though it has not seen a revival. Today, it remains an obscure choice, with no top states of concentration due to its low frequency.
Kern is a rare given name that likely derives from the Irish surname Kern, an Anglicized form of Ó Ciaráin, meaning 'descendant of Ciarán'. The personal name Ciarán comes from the Irish word ciar, meaning 'dark' or 'black', and was the name of several early Irish saints. Alternatively, Kern may be a variant of the German name Kern, meaning 'kernel' or 'core', or a short form of names like Kernan. The name has seen limited use as a masculine given name, primarily in the United States during the early 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Kernan, Kearn
Sibling names for Kern
Names that share Kern's style, for a brother or sister.
