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At a Glance: Name: Mckenna – Meaning: descended from Cionaodh/Kenneth, traditionally glossed 'fire-born' – Origin: Irish (rare spelling of McKenna, from Mac Cionaodha) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: muh-KEN-uh
Mckenna is a rare spelling of McKenna, an Irish name traced back through Mac Cionaodha to Cionaodh, the root behind Kenneth. It's often described as meaning 'born of fire,' but that gloss comes from a disputed etymology of Kenneth/Cináed that scholars haven't settled on, so it's best treated as a traditional association rather than a confirmed meaning. Pronounced muh-KEN-uh (/məˈkɛnə/), it's currently catalogued as a modern, minimalist girl's name.
Meaning & Origin of Mckenna
Meaning: Descended from cionaodh/kenneth, traditionally glossed 'fire-born'.
Origin: Irish (rare spelling of McKenna, from Mac Cionaodha).
A common claim: Said to mean 'born of fire' Actually: This traces to the disputed etymology of Kenneth/Cináed; scholars aren't fully agreed on the 'fire' derivation, so treat it as traditional rather than certain.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Mckenna
Phonetic: muh-KEN-uh IPA: /məˈkɛnə/
Popularity of Mckenna
Mckenna hit its high point in 2002 at #177, with 1,795 babies given the name that year. By 2024 it had slipped to #377 with 825 babies — less than half its peak count — across SSA data running from 1972 to 2024.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data via names_full.json, 1972–2024.
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Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names without a catalog record, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Mckenna mean?
Descended from cionaodh/kenneth, traditionally glossed ‘fire-born’. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Mckenna)
How do you pronounce Mckenna?
Mckenna is pronounced muh-KEN-uh (IPA: /məˈkɛnə/).
Is Mckenna a popular name right now?
Mckenna peaked at #177 in 2002 and is ranked #377 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1972–2024.)
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