Kennedy

Meaning of Kennedy

Kennedy is an Irish surname that has become a given name. It comes from the Gaelic Ó Cinnéide, meaning “descendant of Cinnéidigh,” a personal name built from ceann, “head,” plus a second element that reference works explain either as “helmeted” or as “ugly,” giving “helmeted head” or “ugly head.” The Irish origin of the surname is not in doubt, but the meaning of the personal name behind it is disputed. In American English it is pronounced KEN-uh-dee.

Its best-known associations are American and political. The Kennedy family, above all President John F. Kennedy, gave the name its prominence, and the Kennedy Space Center in Florida is named for him.

For most of the twentieth century it was rare as a girl’s name: 473 girls received it in 1994, when it ranked 524th. It then rose quickly, reaching 4,498 births in 2014, its peak year, at 54th place. In 2025 it was given to 2,933 girls and ranked 85th, still within the top hundred.

Among living bearers, Lisa Kennedy Montgomery is a libertarian commentator who works under the single name Kennedy.

Pronunciation

American English

• Pronunced as KEN-uh-dee (/ˈkɛn.ə.di/)

• Kendall
• Kenzie
• Kenley
• Kennedi
• Kenna
• Kendra