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Kendrick

♂ Boy

Pronounced KEN-drik /ˈkɛn.drɪk/High

Meaning: From the Welsh name Cynwrig, a compound of cyn ('chief, champion') and rig ('ruler, king'), meaning 'greatest champion' or 'royal champion'; also influenced by Old English Cenric meaning 'bold ruler'High

In 30 seconds: Kendrick is a bold Welsh-English name meaning 'greatest champion,' with the cadence of a leader and the cultural momentum of one of rap's most celebrated artists.
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Origin HighWelsh, Old English
MeaningFrom the Welsh name Cynwrig, a compound of cyn ('chief, champion') and rig ('ruler, king'), meaning 'greatest champion' or 'royal champion'; also influenced by Old English Cenric meaning 'bold ruler'
U.S. rank (2025)#535 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births559 boys (0.03% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2013
Total births (all-time)≈ 33,547

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201319122025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Kendrick is an Anglicisation of Welsh Cynwrig, composed of cyn (chief, foremost) and rig (ruler, king). It was a name borne by Welsh princes and appears in medieval records. Old English Cenric (bold ruler) may have reinforced the name's English adoption. The name functioned as a surname in England and Wales for centuries before becoming a given name in the modern era.

Kendrick entered American given-name charts in the mid-20th century and has risen steadily, particularly in African American communities. The global celebrity of rapper and Pulitzer Prize-winner Kendrick Lamar, born Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, accelerated its rise dramatically in the 2010s. It now ranks in the U.S. top 200 and is considered one of the defining boys' names of the current era.

Did you know? Kendrick Lamar became the first rapper to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2018 for his album DAMN. — giving the name Kendrick an unprecedented literary and artistic prestige.
Overall data confidence 88%
Behind the Name — Kendrick — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

KendricKenrick

Nicknames

KenKennyRick

Famous Bearers

  • ★Kendrick Lamar (1987–present)
    American rapper and songwriter, first rapper to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music (2018).

If you like Kendrick…

Derrick— shares the -rick ending and the same strong, two-syllable surname-name energy
Broderick— another Welsh-English -rick name with the same bold, distinguished character
Kenrick— an alternate spelling of the same Welsh root name
Darnell— two-syllable African American naming tradition name in the same powerful register

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kendrick mean?

Kendrick comes from Welsh Cynwrig meaning 'greatest champion' or 'royal ruler,' a compound of cyn (chief) and rig (king).

How do you pronounce Kendrick?

It is said KEN-drik — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Kendrick a boy or girl name?

Kendrick is used almost exclusively as a boys' name.

How popular is Kendrick?

Kendrick ranks in the U.S. top 200 and has been rising steadily, significantly boosted by rapper Kendrick Lamar's cultural prominence.