Kenneth
Pronounced K EH1 N EH1 TH (ARPABET)
- 2 syllables
- Peaked 1957
- 145 years in use
- 1 spelling
How popular is Kenneth?
Kenneth is a boys' name, and has been in the record since the data starts in 1880. It has been given to 1,291,953 children — the 23rd most common boys' name on record.
It has been slipping, down 42% on the previous decade. Its best single year was 1957, when 28,075 children were given it.
Keneth is counted with it here, since the two are pronounced identically.
Spelling variants
These spellings sound identical to Kenneth and are counted together with it, which is why the totals here are higher than a single-spelling count.
- Keneth
Nicknames
Characteristics
- 2 syllables
Phonetic detail
- Pronunciations:
- K EH1 N EH1 TH · K EH1 N IH0 TH
- Stress pattern:
- 11 · 10
- Syllables:
- 2
Stress digits mark unstressed (0), primary (1) and secondary (2) syllables.
Names like Kenneth
Same first letter and syllable count, peaking around the same time.
Sibling names for Kenneth
Names from the same era with a matching rhythm but a different initial.
Frequently asked questions
- How popular is the name Kenneth?
- Kenneth ranks 23rd among boys' names in US records, with 1,291,953 births since 1880. Over the past decade it accounts for 15,895.
- Is Kenneth a unisex name?
- No. Kenneth is recorded almost entirely as a boys' name; births to the other gender are too few to register as a share.
- When was Kenneth most popular?
- 1957, when 28,075 children were given the name. It has been in use for 145 years and is still recorded as of 2024.
- What are common nicknames for Kenneth?
- Ken, Kenny. These are recorded as separate names in their own right, so each has its own page and its own popularity curve.
- How else is Kenneth spelled?
- Keneth. All of these sound the same and are counted together in the totals on this page.