Kenan

Kenan - A very unique male name

Kenan appeared on the charts for the first time in 1976 on position #1631. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Kenan and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Kenan? 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 Kenan. The baby boy name Kenan was given to 136 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1136 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 10,782 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Kenan peaked in popularity 29 years ago in 1997 on position 939.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Kenan, 1-5?

Kenan is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Kenan is currently topping the baby name charts in Connecticut at position #536 - and is the least popular in Florida at position #1,976.

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 Kenan is where you live.

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Kenan origin and meaning

Hebrew (Biblical) and Turkish, convergent forms

Uncertain — Kenan is a biblical name (a grandson of Adam, also spelled Cainan) whose Hebrew meaning is disputed; 'possession' is often proposed but not established

Kenan appears in Genesis as a patriarch of the generations after Adam, under the spellings Kenan and Cainan. The same spelling is also a Turkish name, a convergence rather than a shared root. US use goes back to 1976 and the name is near its 2024 high.

Origin uncertain

Kenan is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

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

Similar to Kenan

We've found the following names that sound similar to Kenan, 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 Kenan

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 Kenan 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 Kenan?

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-nan · /ˈkinən/
KEE-nan (the biblical and the actor's pronunciation) and KEH-nan are both heard.

Around the world

• Kenan (Turkish) — The same spelling is an established Turkish name, by convergence rather than descent

Spellings and nicknames

• Cainan — The alternative biblical spelling, a separate entry
• Keenan — The Irish surname name with a similar sound, a different name

Famous bearers

• Kenan Thompson — American comedian, the longest-tenured cast member of Saturday Night Live (b. 1978) Contemporary
• Kenan — Patriarch in Genesis, son of Enosh and grandson of Adam (Biblical) Historical

Style

BiblicalInternational

Why parents choose it

Kenan splits its identity between an ancient biblical patriarch and a beloved modern comedian — a traditional name with a friendly face.

Worth knowing

• Constantly confused with Keenan, a different (Irish) name