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At a Glance: Name: Kincaid – Meaning: topographic surname: 'head of the pass' (or possibly 'head of the quagmire') – Origin: Scottish (Gaelic habitational surname) – Gender: Neutral – Pronunciation: kin-KAYD
Kincaid is a neutral name, pronounced kin-KAYD, that comes from a Scottish Gaelic surname tied to a specific place: it literally means 'head of the pass' (some sources say 'head of the quagmire'). You may see Kincaid glossed elsewhere as 'head of the battle,' but that appears to be an invented meaning — the name's real roots are topographic, describing a landscape feature rather than a fight.
Meaning & Origin of Kincaid
Meaning: Topographic surname: 'head of the pass' (or possibly 'head of the quagmire').
Origin: Scottish (Gaelic habitational surname).
A common claim: Commonly glossed as 'head of the battle.' Actually: Kincaid is often said to mean 'head of the battle' — that appears to be an invented gloss; it's actually a Scottish topographic surname meaning 'head of the pass' (or 'quagmire').
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Kincaid
Phonetic: kin-KAYD IPA: /kɪnˈkeɪd/
Popularity of Kincaid
Kincaid has stayed rare across the SSA's 1993-2024 records, reaching its peak rank of #3258 in 2000 with 26 babies given the name, then falling to #4015 in 2024 with 27 babies.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1993–2024.
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Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Kincaid mean?
Topographic surname: ‘head of the pass’ (or possibly ‘head of the quagmire’). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Kincaid)
How do you pronounce Kincaid?
Kincaid is pronounced kin-KAYD (IPA: /kɪnˈkeɪd/).
Is Kincaid a popular name right now?
Kincaid peaked at #3258 in 2000 and is ranked #4015 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1993–2024.)
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