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Home › Baby Names Directory › Kennedy

Kennedy

♀ Girl

Pronounced KEN-uh-dee /ˈkɛn.ə.di/High

Meaning: Helmeted chief; from Irish Gaelic Ceannéidigh, from ceann (head) + éidigh (ugly or helmeted)Medium

In 30 seconds: An Irish Gaelic surname meaning 'helmeted chief,' Kennedy leapt into girls' name use after the Kennedy presidential family's cultural prominence — now a top-100 choice.
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Origin HighIrish Gaelic
MeaningHelmeted chief; from Irish Gaelic Ceannéidigh, from ceann (head) + éidigh (ugly or helmeted)
U.S. rank (2025)#85 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births2,933 girls (0.18% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2015
Total births (all-time)≈ 93,645

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201519572025

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

Kennedy comes from the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Ceannéidigh, meaning 'descendant of Ceannéidigh.' The personal name's meaning is debated but commonly interpreted as 'helmeted chief' from ceann (head) and a word related to helmet or ugly.

The surname became one of the most recognized in America through President John F. Kennedy. As a given name for girls it took off in the 1990s and 2000s, entering the top 100 U.S. girls' names by the 2010s.

Did you know? The Kennedy family name descends from the ancient Irish king Brian Boru, whose descendants were known as Ó Ceannéidigh — 'descendants of the helmeted one.'

Variations

KenedyKennediKennady

Nicknames

KenKennyKenz

Famous Bearers

  • ★John F. Kennedy (1917–1963)
    35th President of the United States, whose family name became iconic in American culture.

If you like Kennedy…

Reagan— Irish presidential surname name with the same bold political echo
Harper— another strong surname-to-girls'-name with a similar three-syllable ease
Mackenzie— Scottish Gaelic surname name with the same Celtic presidential feel
Quinn— short Irish surname name with the same strong Celtic spirit

Explore names like Kennedy

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Kennedy mean?

Kennedy is an Irish Gaelic surname meaning 'helmeted chief' or 'ugly head,' from the elements ceann (head) and a word for helmet or ugly.

How do you pronounce Kennedy?

It is said KEN-uh-dee /ˈkɛn.ə.di/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Kennedy a boy or girl name?

Kennedy is used predominantly as a girl's name in the United States today, though it is historically a surname.

How popular is Kennedy?

Kennedy has been a top-100 U.S. girls' name since the 2010s.

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