Kenan
Kenan was the 1148th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 184 babies. Its best year was 1997, when it ranked 970th; the most babies were born in 2024 (187). Over the last ten years it has moved up 525 places. More babies were named Kenan in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #1,148 boys, up 182 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 184boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2024187 babies
- Total since 1880
- 4,675babies recorded
Kenan popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 30 since 1985.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,148 | 184 |
| 2020 | #1,330 | 135 |
| 2010 | #1,731 | 88 |
| 2000 | #1,249 | 106 |
| 1990 | #1,885 | 41 |
| 1980 | #1,580 | 38 |
| 1970 | #2,800 | 12 |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Kenan, counting every spelling?
Kenan is a spelling of Keenan, a name family that ranked #750 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,148 for Kenan on its own. Together these spellings went to 333 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keenan | 149 | #1,307 | 889 |
| Kenan | 184 | #1,148 | 814 |
| Kennen | — | — | 29 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Kenan?
184 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Kenan (0.05 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Kenan born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 46 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Kenan.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Kenan?
About 4,500 people born in the US named Kenan are alive today, with a median age of 18; half are between 8 and 29. That makes Kenan mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Kenan by state
How common Kenan was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Michigan (4.2×), New York (2.5×), North Carolina (2.1×), Illinois (1.6×). In 33 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Kenan: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Kenan, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Kenan
How popular is the name Kenan?
Kenan was the 1148th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 184 babies. Its best year was 1997, when it ranked 970th; the most babies were born in 2024 (187). Over the last ten years it has moved up 525 places. More babies were named Kenan in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Kenan a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Kenan in the US.
Where is Kenan most popular?
In 2021–2025, Kenan was most common in Michigan (0.40 per 1,000 boys), followed by New York and North Carolina.