Kenai

Kenai - A very unique male name

Kenai appeared on the charts for the first time in 2004 on position #2918. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Kenai and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Kenai? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Kenai. The baby boy name Kenai was given to 335 baby boys in 2025, ranking #710 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 4,377 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Kenai peaked in popularity 1 years ago in 2025 on position 710.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Kenai, 1-5?

Kenai is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Kenai is currently topping the baby name charts in Montana at position #260 - and is the least popular in New York at position #1,170.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Kenai is where you live.

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Kenai origin and meaning

Place name — Kenai Peninsula, Alaska (Dena'ina Athabascan)

A place name; its Dena'ina meaning is not securely recorded for popular use

Kenai is the name of an Alaskan peninsula, river and town, from the Dena'ina Athabascan people of the region. As a boy's name it appeared in 2004, shortly after Disney's Brother Bear (2003) featured a hero named Kenai, and it has risen to its highest use yet in 2025. The place-name origin is clear; a tidy one-word translation is not.

Origin uncertain

Kenai is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Kenai, pop culture references for the name Kenai and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Kenai

We've found the following names that sound similar to Kenai, sorted by popularity.

Kenny / Keegan / Kim / Ken / Kane / Keenan / Kayson / Kason / Kian / Kasen /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Kenai

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Kenai a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Kenai?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

KEE-ny · /ˈkinaɪ/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Famous bearers

• Kenai — Protagonist of Disney's Brother Bear, a young man transformed into a bear (Fictional, 2003) Fictional

Style

Place name

Why parents choose it

Kenai appeals to parents wanting a rugged, outdoorsy, Alaska-flavoured name that is still soft in sound. It is rising steadily and reached its peak so far in 2025.

Worth knowing

• Many will first think of the Brother Bear hero or the Alaskan place.
• Spelling variants (Kenai vs. Keneye-type guesses) — people will need the spelling.