Girl name · Irish Gaelic
Kennedy
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: from an Irish surname, from Cennétig, armoured or misshapen headKennedy is a girl's name that is of Irish Gaelic origin: from an Irish surname, from Cennétig, armoured or misshapen head. It is used in English and Irish.
- Meaning
- From an Irish surname, from Cennétig, armoured or misshapen head
- Origin
- Irish Gaelic
- Gender
- Girl
- US rank
- #85 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Kennedy
As a girl's name, Kennedy is of Irish Gaelic origin: from an Irish surname, from Cennétig, armoured or misshapen head. It is used in English and Irish.
Kennedy is also a surname: the 149th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 171,457 people. See the most common last names.
Meaning checked against Behind the Name. How we research names
Kennedy on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Kennedy on 1 list.
“Ó Cinnéide, from a first name built on ceann, head”
From Irish last names, most common Irish last names
How popular is Kennedy?
- US rank in 2025
- #85
- 2,933 babies, 1,825 per million girls
- Best rank
- #54 in 2014
- Most babies: 4,523 in 2015
- Babies since 1957
- At least 93,663
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 1 per million |
| 1970s | 1 per million |
| 1980s | 7 per million |
| 1990s | 475 per million |
| 2000s | 1,492 per million |
| 2010s | 2,205 per million |
| 2020s | 1,930 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #59 | #58 | #59 | #68 | #72 | #70 | #74 | #72 | #89 | #85 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names with a similar meaning
- CaraFriend in Irish; beloved in Italian (Irish and Italian, girl)
- DeclanMeaning unknown, though likely begins with Old Irish dag, good (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- EvelynFrom a surname derived from the given name Aveline (English, girl)
- GrahamFrom a surname from the place name Grantham, probably gravelly homestead (Old English, boy)
- JacksonFrom a surname meaning son of Jack (English, boy)
- NolanFrom an Irish surname derived from nuall, famous, loud (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AdairFrom a surname derived from Edgar (English, unisex)
- AilbhePerhaps white or light, from Old Irish Ailbe (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- BakerFrom a surname meaning baker (Old English, boy)
- BarrettFrom a surname probably meaning quarrelsome, deceptive (Middle English, boy)
- BeckettFrom a surname, possibly from beak or stream (Middle English, boy)
- BeckhamFrom a surname meaning Becca's homestead (Old English, boy)
- BensonFrom a surname meaning son of Benedict (English, boy)
- BentleyFrom a surname meaning bentgrass clearing (Old English, boy)
- BerwynWhite head (Welsh, boy)
Middle names for Kennedy
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More girl names from Irish Gaelic
- RoryRed king (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- BridgetExalted one (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- BridieExalted one (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- BrigitteExalted one (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- CaseyVigilant, watchful (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- CassidyCurly-haired (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- DymphnaLittle fawn (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- ErinOf Ireland (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- KeiraDark one (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- KerryCiar's people (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- LennonLover, sweetheart (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- MaeveShe who intoxicates (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- MonaLittle noble one (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- MurphySea warrior (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- NeveBright, radiant (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- OrlaGolden ruler, from Órlaith: ór, gold, and flaith, ruler (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- QuinnDescendant of Conn (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- ReaganLittle king (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
Kennedy: common questions
What does the name Kennedy mean?
Kennedy is of Irish Gaelic origin: from an Irish surname, from Cennétig, armoured or misshapen head. Checked against Behind the Name.
Is Kennedy a boy or girl name?
Kennedy is mainly a girl's name. In 2025, 2,933 girls and 86 boys in the US were named Kennedy, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Kennedy come from?
Kennedy is of Irish Gaelic origin: from an Irish surname, from Cennétig, armoured or misshapen head. Today it is used in English and Irish.
How popular is the name Kennedy?
Kennedy ranked #85 in the US in 2025, with 2,933 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What middle names go with Kennedy?
Middle names that flow well with Kennedy include Agnes, Belle, Blair, Gwen and Honor. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.