NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Kenneth

A masculine name of Celtic origin meaning "born of fire".

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.

Kenneth is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kenneth popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #968, with 32 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 69 births.

This profile covers 1,105 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 46% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 5,981 living people in the UK are called Kenneth. 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

  • Kenneth ranked #968 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 32 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 69 boys were registered as Kenneth.
  • Kenneth ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #315 in 2007.
  • About 5,981 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kenneth as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#968

2024

Births in 2024

32

Latest year

Peak year

1996

69 births

Estimated living

5,981

2026

Meaning

What does Kenneth mean?

The name Kenneth has its origins in the Gaelic language, which was spoken by the Celts in regions of Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man. It is derived from the Gaelic words "ced" meaning "born of fire" and "nath" meaning "something burnt". Together, the name Kenneth is believed to have originally meant "born of fire" or "fire-born".

The earliest recorded use of the name Kenneth dates back to the 6th century, where it was found in ancient Scottish and Irish texts. It is thought that the name was initially associated with royalty or nobility in these regions, as several early Scottish kings bore the name.

One of the most notable historical figures named Kenneth was Kenneth I, who ruled as the King of Scots from 844 to 858 AD. He is credited with bringing together the Picts and Scots, laying the foundation for the Kingdom of Scotland.

Another famous bearer of the name was Kenneth III, who reigned as the King of Scots from 997 to 1005 AD. He was known for his efforts to promote Christianity and establish the Church's influence in Scotland.

In the 12th century, Kenneth Baliol, a Scottish nobleman, played a significant role in the Scottish Wars of Independence against England. He was a prominent supporter of King William the Lion.

In the 16th century, Kenneth Mackenzie, a Scottish nobleman and chief of the Clan Mackenzie, was known for his involvement in the Highland clan wars and his efforts to expand the Mackenzie clan's territory.

Saint Kenneth, also known as Kenneth of Aghaboe, was an Irish monk and abbot who lived in the 6th century. He is revered as the patron saint of the Leinster region in Ireland and is associated with several monasteries and churches.

Throughout history, the name Kenneth has been popular across various cultures and societies, particularly in Scotland, Ireland, England, and parts of North America. Its association with nobility and historical figures has contributed to its enduring popularity over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Kenneth over time

The chart below shows babies named Kenneth 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 Kenneth, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 32 births in 2024, compared with 69 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Kenneth
017355269199620102024

Decades

Kenneth by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kenneth 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 #1116 127 5
2010s #973 303 10
2000s #620 417 10
1990s #359 258 4

Geography

Where Kenneth is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Kenneth. 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.

Kenneth ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #315 in 2007.

Scotland
5
Northern Ireland
4

Across the UK

Kenneth in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#535 in 2024

50 years of NRS records, 5,024 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#315 in 2007

6 years of NISRA records, 26 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Kenneth

  • Kenneth Bigley

    engineer; civil engineer

    British civil engineer who was kidnapped in the al-Mansour district of Baghdad, Iraq, on 16 September 2004

    1942-2004

  • Kenneth Radway Allen

    biologist; ichthyologist; academic

    New Zealand academic (1911–2008)

    1911-2008

Related

Names similar to Kenneth

FAQ

Kenneth: questions and answers

How popular is the name Kenneth in the UK right now?

In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #968 for boys in England and Wales, with 32 births registered.

When was Kenneth most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 69 babies registered as Kenneth in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Kenneth?

A masculine name of Celtic origin meaning "born of fire".

How many people are called Kenneth in the UK?

A total of 1,105 babies have been registered as Kenneth across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 5,024 more in Scotland and 26 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Kenneth most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Kenneth ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #315 in 2007. 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.