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At a Glance
- Meaning
- A blend of two old Gaelic names, one roughly 'fire-born', the other 'the fair one'
- Origin
- Scottish Gaelic
- Gender
- Boy
- Pronunciation
- KEN-uth
Kenneth is a Scottish Gaelic name, pronounced KEN-uth (/ˈkɛnəθ/), that's actually a blend of two older Gaelic names — one meaning roughly 'fire-born,' the other 'the fair one.' It carries a timeless, classic, vintage feel rooted in that Scottish Gaelic history rather than a modern invention. For parents researching boy names with real linguistic roots, Kenneth is a classic with a clear, traceable origin.
Meaning & Origin of Kenneth
Meaning: A blend of two old Gaelic names, one roughly 'fire-born', the other 'the fair one'.
Origin: Scottish Gaelic.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Kenneth
KEN-uthIPA /ˈkɛnəθ/
Popularity of Kenneth
Kenneth peaked at #13 in 1939, when 14,715 baby boys were given the name, and has since settled to #284 in 2024 with 1,186 boys given the name that year.
Names Like Kenneth
These names share Kenneth’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Kenneth mean?
A blend of two old Gaelic names, one roughly ‘fire-born’, the other ‘the fair one’. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Kenneth?
Kenneth is pronounced KEN-uth (IPA: /ˈkɛnəθ/).
Is Kenneth a popular name right now?
Kenneth peaked at #13 in 1939 and is ranked #284 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Kenneth Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Kenneth, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Kenneth? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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