Kennedy

At a Glance

Meaning

Descendant of Cinnéide, a personal name traditionally glossed 'ugly-headed'

Origin

Irish (Ó Cinnéidigh)

Gender

Neutral

Pronunciation

KEN-uh-deeListen

Kennedy comes from the Irish surname Ó Cinnéidigh, meaning 'descendant of Cinnéide' — a personal name traditionally translated as 'ugly-headed,' not the 'helmeted chief' meaning that sometimes circulates (that mix-up likely comes from confusing the Irish word for 'ugly' with the similar-sounding word for 'armor'). It works as a name for a boy or a girl, pronounced KEN-uh-dee. Records on the name go back to 1912, so it's a well-established option rather than a recent arrival.

Meaning & Origin of Kennedy

Meaning: Descendant of Cinnéide, a personal name traditionally glossed 'ugly-headed'.

Origin: Irish (Ó Cinnéidigh).

A common claim: helmeted head / helmeted chief Actually: This likely comes from confusing éidigh ('ugly') with the similar Irish word éide ('armour/dress'); Irish surname scholarship traditionally glosses Cinnéide as 'ugly-headed', not 'helmeted'.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Kennedy

Popularity of Kennedy

Kennedy peaked at #54 in 2014, when 4,497 babies were given the name; by 2024 it had moved to #89, with 2,881 babies given the name that year.

Names Like Kennedy

These names share Kennedy’s style, era or origin.

• Delaney
• Gael
• Lennon
• Quinn
• Rory
• Rowan

FAQ

What does the name Kennedy mean?

Descendant of Cinnéide, a personal name traditionally glossed ‘ugly-headed’. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Kennedy?

Kennedy is pronounced KEN-uh-dee (IPA: /ˈkɛnədi/).

Is Kennedy a popular name right now?

Kennedy peaked at #54 in 2014 and is ranked #89 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1912–2024.)

Make Kennedy Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Kennedy, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.