Entry № 2991 · Irish origin

Kennedy Kennedy — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ KEN-eh-dee /
Gender
Girl
Origin
Irish
Meaning
"Helmeted chief"
Syllables
3
Rank · US 2025
№ 92
First recorded
Surname: medieval

A name that means "helmeted chief".

Kennedy comes from the Irish surname Ó Cinnéide, meaning "descendant of Cinnéide" — where Cinnéide is from cenn (head) and éide (armour, helmet) — translating roughly as "helmeted head" or "helmeted chief."

John F. Kennedy, the 35th U.S. President, gave the surname its modern resonance. As a girl's first name, Kennedy entered the U.S. top 1000 in 1994 and now sits in the top 90 — used about 95% for girls.

Helmeted chief, in Irish. An American surname turned modern girl's name.

The name in its native script.

Kennedy
Transliteration
Kennedy
Pronunciation
/ ˈkɛn.ə.di /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Kennedy stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 92 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 51 in 2013
Babies named Kennedy · last year
3024 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
1994
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · №51 NOW · №92

Kennedys before her.

Real people
John F. Kennedy
35th U.S. President (the surname).
1917 – 1963
In fiction
Kennedy
Common contemporary character name.

Names connected to Kennedy.

The number behind Kennedy.

3

The Communicator

Kennedy reduces to three — the number of confident expression.

Why families chose this name.

"Strong, presidential, classically American. We chose it for the weight."
Jennifer · Mother of one · Boston