UK name, mostly boys
Kenzie
A diminutive form of the Scottish surname McKenzie, meaning "son of Kenneth".
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.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 813 girls.
Kenzie is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Kenzie popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1758, with 14 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 357 births.
This profile covers 2,596 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 2002 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 4% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 3,399 living people in the UK are called Kenzie. 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
- • Kenzie ranked #1758 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 14 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 357 boys were registered as Kenzie.
- • Kenzie ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #421 in 2016.
- • Kenzie is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 3,399 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kenzie as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 76.2% of Kenzie registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1758
2024
Births in 2024
14
Latest year
Peak year
2009
357 births
Estimated living
3,399
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Kenzie
In England and Wales birth records, Kenzie has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 76.2% of registrations are for boys and 23.8% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Kenzie registered for boys
- Ranked #1,758 in 2024
- 14 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2009 (357 births)
Kenzie registered for girls
- Ranked #3,695 in 2024
- 6 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2005 (82 births)
Meaning
What does Kenzie mean?
The name Kenzie originates from the Scottish Gaelic language and culture, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is a diminutive form of the name Mackenzie, which itself is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "cuinnidh" meaning "born of fire" or "fair bright one."
The earliest recorded instances of the name Mackenzie date back to the 13th century, when it was used as a clan surname in the Scottish Highlands. The Mackenzie clan was one of the most powerful and influential in the region, with their territory centered around the area of Ross-shire.
While the name Kenzie itself does not appear to have any direct historical references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its Scottish origins are deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of the Gaelic-speaking people.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Kenzie was Sir Kenneth Mackenzie, a Scottish nobleman who lived in the 16th century and played a significant role in the political and military affairs of his time. He was known for his bravery and loyalty to the Scottish Crown.
Another prominent figure associated with the name was Kenzie Walker, an American poet and writer who lived from 1845 to 1923. She was a member of the Chicago Literary Club and published several volumes of poetry, including "Lyrics of Leisure" and "Songs of the Marshes."
In the realm of sports, Kenzie Kent was a Canadian ice hockey player who competed in the early 20th century. Born in 1892, he played for several teams in the National Hockey Association and was known for his skilled and aggressive style of play.
In more recent times, Kenzie Dalton was an American actress and singer who gained popularity in the 1940s and 1950s. She appeared in several Broadway productions and Hollywood films, showcasing her talents as a versatile performer.
Another notable individual with the name Kenzie was Sir Kenzie Talmadge Sampson, a British diplomat and politician who lived from 1908 to 1988. He served as the Governor of Cyprus and played a crucial role in the island's transition to independence from British rule.
While the name Kenzie has its roots in Scottish Gaelic culture, it has since gained popularity across various regions and communities, transcending its historical origins and becoming a beloved name choice for many families around the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kenzie over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Kenzie in England and Wales, 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 Kenzie, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 14 births in 2024, compared with 357 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kenzie by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kenzie 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 | #1399 | 95 | 5 |
| 2010s | #536 | 1,145 | 10 |
| 2000s | #825 | 1,356 | 8 |
Geography
Where Kenzie is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Kenzie. 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.
Kenzie ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #421 in 2016.
Across the UK
Kenzie in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#727 in 2024
23 years of NRS records, 707 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#421 in 2016
11 years of NISRA records, 119 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Kenzie
-
Kenzie Weir
association football player
Scottish footballer
2004-
Related
Names similar to Kenzie
- 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
Kenzie: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kenzie in the UK right now?
In 2024, Kenzie was ranked #1758 for boys in England and Wales, with 14 births registered.
When was Kenzie most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 357 babies registered as Kenzie in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kenzie?
A diminutive form of the Scottish surname McKenzie, meaning "son of Kenneth".
How many people are called Kenzie in the UK?
A total of 2,596 babies have been registered as Kenzie across the 23 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 707 more in Scotland and 119 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Kenzie most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Kenzie ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #421 in 2016. 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.