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Kennedy

♂ Boy

Pronounced KEHN-uh-dee /ˈkɛn.ə.di/Medium

Meaning: From Irish Ó Cinnéide, meaning 'helmeted head' or 'misshapen head', from ceann 'head'.Medium

In 30 seconds: Kennedy comes from the Irish surname Ó Cinnéide, built on ceann, 'head', and read as 'helmeted head' or 'misshapen head'. It is a strong Irish name now used freely as a first name.
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Origin MediumIrish
MeaningFrom Irish Ó Cinnéide, meaning 'helmeted head' or 'misshapen head', from ceann 'head'.
U.S. rank (2024)#1738 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births95 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1964
Total births (all-time)≈ 7,368

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 196419122024

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

History & Origin

The name began as the Irish family name Ó Cinnéide, formed from ceann meaning 'head', and explained as either 'helmeted head' or 'misshapen head'. Long an Irish surname, it has crossed over into given-name use. Its descriptive root gives it an old, earthy quality beneath the modern usage.

One notable bearer is Kennedy William Gordy (born 1964), son of Motown founder Berry Gordy, who recorded the 1984 hit 'Somebody's Watching Me' under the stage name Rockwell. The name carries a brisk, confident sound that suits both surname and first-name roles.

Did you know? Kennedy reached first-name use through a surname route, from the Irish Ó Cinnéide meaning 'helmeted head' or 'ugly head', which gives it that modern borrowed-from-history feel.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Kennedy — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Kennedy William Gordy (Rockwell) (b. 1964)
    American singer, son of Motown founder Berry Gordy, who recorded the 1984 hit "Somebody's Watching Me" (with Michael Jackson on the chorus) under the stage name Rockwell.

If you like Kennedy…

Brennan— Another Irish surname turned first name with a similar heritage feel.
Cassidy— A shared Irish Ó-surname origin used as a given name like Kennedy.
Donovan— An Irish surname-derived name with the same Gaelic background.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kennedy mean?

Kennedy comes from the Irish surname Ó Cinnéide, from Gaelic ceann 'head' and éidigh 'ugly/armoured', meaning 'helmeted head' or 'ugly head'. It is most often linked with Irish tradition.

How do you pronounce Kennedy?

It's commonly said KEHN-uh-dee /ˈkɛn.ə.di/.

Is Kennedy a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Kennedy is used as a boy name.

How popular is Kennedy?

In 2024, Kennedy ranked #1738 in the U.S. for boys, with 95 births recorded.