Kenna

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Kenna

Pronounced KEN-uh /ˈkɛn.ə/Medium

Meaning: A short form of McKenna (a Scottish/Irish surname) and a Scottish given name in its own right. Today it reads most often as a girl's name; used here for a boy, which we flag.Low

In 30 seconds: A modern coinage: Kenna is a short form of McKenna, also a Scottish name (said 'KEN-uh'). The routes are uncertain, which we note.

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Kenna

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Origin LowScottish, American

MeaningA short form of McKenna (a Scottish/Irish surname) and a Scottish given name in its own right. Today it reads most often as a girl's name; used here for a boy, which we flag.

U.S. rank (2023)#11568 ↘ Falling

2023 U.S. births6 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1956

Total births (all-time)≈ 240

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Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

As a modern name, Kenna is a short form of McKenna, also a Scottish name. It has no one documented etymology, so the routes are uncertain, which we note - a fresh, rare pick (said 'KEN-uh').

It appears only recently and very rarely in U.S. data. Rare, cross-sex, and short.

Did you know? Kenna reads as a contemporary coinage - a McKenna short form - carrying sound over a single fixed meaning; its routes are uncertain, which we note (said 'KEN-uh').

Overall data confidence 34%

References - Kenna — McKenna short form / Scottish; usually female

Variations

KenaKenahMckenna

Nicknames

KenKenny

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Kenna…

Mckenna— the name it shortens

Kellan— a like K- pick

Declan— a like Celtic name

Kaisyn— a fellow American choice

Kendry— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Kenna

By themeunisex cross-sex scottish surname-adjacent

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Kenna mean?

Kenna is a short form of McKenna and a Scottish name; today it reads most often as a girl's name.

How do you pronounce Kenna?

It's said KEN-uh /ˈkɛn.ə/ - 2 syllables, stress on the first.

Is Kenna a boy or girl name?

Kenna is usually a girl's name (a McKenna short form); here it is used for a boy, which we flag.

How popular is Kenna?

It is an extremely rare, newly emerging name in the U.S.