UK boy's name
Kenan
Of Arabic origin, meaning "seeker of truth or skilled one".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kenan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kenan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #857, with 37 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 68 births.
This profile covers 751 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 54% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 764 living people in the UK are called Kenan. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kenan ranked #857 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 37 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 68 boys were registered as Kenan.
- • Kenan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #727 in 2024.
- • About 764 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kenan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#857
2024
Births in 2024
37
Latest year
Peak year
1998
68 births
Estimated living
764
2026
Meaning
What does Kenan mean?
The name Kenan has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew name "Qenan," which means "to acquire" or "to possess." This name finds its earliest mention in the Book of Genesis, where Kenan is listed as one of the descendants of Adam.
In the biblical narrative, Kenan was the son of Enosh and the father of Mahalalel. He lived during the antediluvian period, before the great flood described in the book of Genesis. The name Kenan is also found in other ancient texts, such as the Book of Jubilees, an ancient Jewish text from the 2nd century BCE.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Kenan can be found in the Septuagint, the earliest Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, which dates back to the 3rd century BCE. In this translation, the name is rendered as "Kainan."
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Kenan. One of the most famous was Kenan the Philosopher (c. 215-275 CE), a Neoplatonist philosopher from Emesa, Syria. He was a significant figure in the development of Neoplatonist thought and was a teacher of the renowned philosopher Porphyry.
Another prominent figure was Kenan Evren (1917-2015), a Turkish military officer and politician who served as the seventh President of Turkey from 1980 to 1989. He played a pivotal role in the 1980 Turkish coup d'état, which led to his presidency.
In the literary world, Kenan Malik (born 1962) is a renowned British writer, lecturer, and broadcaster. He has authored several books on topics such as race, religion, and science, and is known for his critical analysis of multiculturalism and identity politics.
Kenan Thompson (born 1978) is an American actor and comedian, best known for his long-running tenure on the sketch comedy show "Saturday Night Live." He has been a cast member since 2003 and is currently the longest-serving cast member in the show's history.
Lastly, Kenan Doğulu (born 1974) is a Turkish singer, songwriter, and record producer. He has released several successful albums and is considered one of the most popular and influential figures in the Turkish music industry.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Kenan throughout history, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and cultures.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kenan over time
The chart below shows babies named Kenan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kenan, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 37 births in 2024, compared with 68 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kenan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kenan was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #1013 | 147 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1241 | 214 | 10 |
| 2000s | #977 | 229 | 10 |
| 1990s | #613 | 161 | 4 |
Geography
Where Kenan is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Kenan. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Kenan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #727 in 2024.
Across the UK
Kenan in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#727 in 2024
5 years of NRS records, 19 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Kenan
-
Kenan Malik
journalist; biologist; neuroscientist; philosopher
English writer, lecturer and broadcaster
1960-
Related
Names similar to Kenan
- Kieran 30,429
- Kyle 28,463
- Kai 24,432
- Kian 17,666
- Kayden 8,305
- Kevin 7,927
- Kane 7,149
- Kaiden 5,762
- Kieron 4,547
- Kacper 4,366
- Kye 4,012
- Kit 3,529
FAQ
Kenan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kenan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Kenan was ranked #857 for boys in England and Wales, with 37 births registered.
When was Kenan most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 68 babies registered as Kenan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kenan?
Of Arabic origin, meaning "seeker of truth or skilled one".
How many people are called Kenan in the UK?
A total of 751 babies have been registered as Kenan across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 19 more in Scotland.
Where is Kenan most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Kenan ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #727 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.