Kennedy
Kennedy is a unisex name of Irish origin meaning “helmeted chief; misshapen head.” It ranked #148 in the United States in 2025. From the Irish Gaelic Cinnéidigh (ceann = head, éidigh = ugly or helmeted).
how do you pronounce Kennedy?
KEN-eh-dee
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Kennedy mean?
The name Kennedy means “helmeted chief; misshapen head.” It comes from the Irish language tradition.
From the Irish Gaelic Cinnéidigh (ceann = head, éidigh = ugly or helmeted). The Kennedy surname became globally iconic through President John F. Kennedy and his family, making this name a patriotic and aspirational choice in the U.S.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2024 | #148 |
| 2023 | #144 |
| 2022 | #139 |
| 2021 | #133 |
| 2020 | #127 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
who are famous people named Kennedy?
- John F. Kennedy (U.S. president)
- Kennedy McMann (actress)
what names are similar to Kennedy?
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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