Kennedy (also spelled Kenedi, Kennedie, Kennedi) () is a

unisex Unisex is an adjective indicating something is not sex-specific, i.e. is suitable for any type of sex. The term can also mean gender-blindness or gender neutrality. The term 'unisex' was coined as a neologism in the 1960s and was used fairly i ...

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a ...

in the

English language English is a West Germanic language of the Indo-European language family, with its earliest forms spoken by the inhabitants of early medieval England. It is named after the Angles, one of the ancient Germanic peoples that migrated to the ...

. The name is an Anglicised form of a masculine given name in the

Irish language Irish ( Standard Irish: ), also known as Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Insular Celtic branch of the Celtic language family, which is a part of the Indo-European language family. Irish is indigenous to the island of Ireland and was ...

Etymology

According to Patrick Hanks and Flavia Hodges, the given name ''Kennedy'' is an Anglicised form of ''Cinnéidigh'', a masculine given name in the

. This Irish name is composed of two elements: the first, ''ceann'', means "head"; the second, ''éidigh'', means "ugly".. According to Patrick Woulfe, who wrote in the early 19th century, ''Kennedy or Kynidi'' is an Anglicised form the Irish ''Cinnéididh'' and ''Cinnéidigh''. Woulfe derived these Irish names from two elements: the first, ''ceann'', meaning "a head"; the second, ''éide'', meaning "Armour"; hence the name can be thought to mean "helmet-headed".

Other languages

As a masculine given name, ''Kennedy'' can be rendered into Irish as ''Cinnéididh'' and ''Cinnéidigh'', and into

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

as ''Kinnedius''., which is a transcription of: . The masculine ''Kennedy'' can be rendered into

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well ...

as ''Uarraig''. This name is etymologically unrelated to the English ''Kennedy'' and Irish ''Cinnéidigh''. ''Uarraig'' is composed of two

elements: the first, ''uall'', means "pride"; and the second, ''garg'', means "fierce". This Scottish Gaelic name is Anglicised ''Kennedy'' possibly because it was commonly borne by various families who bore the surname '' Kennedy''. One such family, according tradition dating from the 18th century, descended from a man who bore a form of this name, and settled in

Lochaber Lochaber ( ; gd, Loch Abar) is a name applied to a part of the Scottish Highlands. Historically, it was a provincial lordship consisting of the parishes of Kilmallie and Kilmonivaig, as they were before being reduced in extent by the creatio ...

in the 16th century.

Popularity and use

Throughout the

English-speaking world Speakers of English are also known as Anglophones, and the countries where English is natively spoken by the majority of the population are termed the '' Anglosphere''. Over two billion people speak English , making English the largest langua ...

, the given name ''Kennedy'' has sometimes been used in honour of

John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination ...

, the 35th President of the United States, who was assassinated in 1963, and his brother

Robert F. Kennedy Robert Francis Kennedy (November 20, 1925June 6, 1968), also known by his initials RFK and by the nickname Bobby, was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 64th United States Attorney General from January 1961 to September 1964, ...

, who was assassinated in 1968.. In the

United States of America The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territo ...

, ''Kennedy'', has been among the top 1,000 names recorded in

Social Security card In the United States, a Social Security number (SSN) is a nine-digit number issued to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and temporary (working) residents under section 205(c)(2) of the Social Security Act, codified as . The number is issued to ...

applications, in the last 10 years, for both baby boys and girls. As a masculine name, ''Kennedy'' first appeared amongst the top 1,000 names in 1960, but fell out of the top 1,000 after 1968. The name did not re-enter the top 1,000 until 1994, where it stayed until 2005. At its height, ''Kennedy'' was ranked the 516th most popular masculine baby name in 1964. As a feminine name, ''Kennedy'' first appeared among the top 1,000 names in 1994, where it has remained ever since. Its peak it was ranked the 110th most popular feminine baby name in 2007. As of 2009 it was the 114th most popular.. In 1990, the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...

undertook a study of the 1990 United States Census, and released a sample of data concerning the most popular names. According to this sample of 6.3 million people (who had 5,494 unique first names), ''Kennedy'' did not even appear among the 4,275 feminine names, or the 1,219 masculine names..

Popularity charts

People

Notable people with the given name or nickname Kennedy include:

Males with the name

* Kennedy Agyapong (born 1960), Ghanaian politician and businessman *

Ken Anderson (wrestler) Kenneth Anderson (born March 6, 1976) is an American professional wrestler. Anderson is known for his tenure with WWE from 2005 to 2009 under the ring name Mr. Kennedy, and his work in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as Mr. Anderson from 2010 to ...

(born 1976), known professionally as Mr. Kennedy, American professional wrestler * Kennedy Ashia (born 1993), Ghanaian professional football player *

Kennedy Baker Kennedy Baker (born May 10, 1996) is a retired American collegiate and artistic gymnast. She competed as an elite gymnast from 2009 through 2013 and has since retired. She had competed in collegiate gymnastics for the Florida Gators. Career ...

(born 1996), American former gymnast * Kennedy Bakircioglu (born 1980), Swedish former football player * Kennedy Asamoah Boateng (born 1989), Ghanaian professional football player * Kennedy Kofi Boateng (born 1993), Ghanaian professional football player * Kennedy Brooks (born 1998), American football player * Kennedy Francis Burns (1842–1895), Canadian politician and businessman *

Kennedy Chandler Kennedy Collier Chandler (born September 16, 2002) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Tennessee Volunteers bask ...

(born 2002), American basketball player * Kennedy Chihuri (born 1969), Zimbabwean former football player * Reuben Asberry Jr., professionally known as Kennedy Davenport, American drag queen * Kennedy Edwin (born 1976), Malaysian musician * Kennedy Eriba (born 1990), Nigerian professional football player * Kennedy William Gordy (born 1964), professionally known as Rockwell, American former singer * Kennedy Graham (born 1946), New Zealand politician * Kennedy Hinkson (born 1986), Trinidad and Tobago professional football player * Kennedy Igboananike (born 1989), Nigerian professional football player * Kennedy Ihenacho (born 1990), Nigerian professional football player * Kennedy Izuka, American soccer player * Kennedy Jones (journalist) (1865–1921), British journalist * Kennedy Jones (musician) (1900–1990), American musician * Kennedy Musyoka Kalonzo (born 1987), Kenyan politician and lawyer *

Kennedy Kanyanta Kennedy Kanyanta (born April 10, 1979 in Mufulira, Copperbelt) is a Zambian boxer who won the 2002 Commonwealth Games in the men's flyweight division and bronze at the 2007 AllAfrica Games as an amateur. Amateur At the Olympics 2000 he had a bye, ...

(born 1979), Zambian professional boxer *

Kennedy Katende Kennedy Katende (born 15 March 1985) is an Ugandan boxer from Kampala who qualified for the 2008 Olympics in the light-heavyweight division. His second place behind Kenneth Egan was good enough, and he benefitted from his compatriot Badou Jack' ...

(born 1985), Ugandan-Swedish amateur boxer * Kennedy Kimwetich (born 1973), Kenyan former runner * Kennedy Kithuka (born 1989), Kenyan-American runner *

Kennedy Lindsay Kennedy Lindsay (1924–1997) was a Northern Ireland politician and a leading advocate of Ulster nationalism. Born in Canada but raised in Northern Ireland, Lindsay pursued a career as a history academic before becoming associated with the Ulster ...

(1927–1997), British politician *

Kennedy Macdonald Thomas Kennedy Macdonald (6 April 1847 – 17 October 1914), known as Kennedy Macdonald or Kennedy Mac, was a 19th-century Liberal Party Member of Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand. Early life Macdonald was born in Boulogne-sur-Mer in nor ...

(1847–1914), New Zealand politician * Kennedy Malunga (born 1970), Malawian professional football player * Kennedy McArthur (1881–1960), known as

Ken McArthur Kennedy Kane "Ken" McArthur (February 10, 1881 – June 13, 1960) is most noted as a track and field athlete and winner of the marathon at the 1912 Summer Olympics. Biography Born in Dervock, County Antrim, Ireland, McArthur was recogni ...

, Irish track and field athlete * Kennedy McIntosh (1949–2009), American professional basketball player * Kennedy McKinney (born 1966), American former professional boxer * Kennedy Meeks (born 1995), American professional basketball player * Kennedy Moretti (born 1966), Brazilian pianist * Kennedy Mudenda (born 1988), Zambian professional football player *

Kennedy Mweene Kennedy Mweene (born 11 December 1984) is a Zambian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for South African Premier Soccer League club Mamelodi Sundowns and the Zambia national team. He is Zambia's most capped player, having repres ...

(born 1984), Zambian professional football player * Kennedy Nagoli (born 1973), Zimbabwean former professional football player * Kennedy Nketani (born 1984), Zambian professional football player * Kennedy Nkeyasen (born 1976), Ghanaian former professional soccer player * Kennedy Ugoala Nwanganga (born 1990), Nigerian professional football player * Kennedy Osei Nyarko (born 1979), Ghanaian politician *

Kennedy Ochieng Kennedy Ochieng (born 30 December 1971) is a retired Kenyan sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres. He was the flagbearer for Kenya at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, ...

(born 1971), Kenyan former sprinter * Kennedy Odede, Kenyan entrepreneur * Kennedy Mong'are Okong'o (born 1969), Kenyan politician * Kennedy Okonkwo (born 1977), Nigerian businessman * Kennedy Omogi (born 1983) * Kennedy Ondiek (1966–2011), Kenyan runner * Kennedy J. P. Orton (1872–1930), British chemist * Kennedy Osei (born 1966), Ghanaian former runner * Kennedy Otieno (born 1972), Kenyan former professional cricketer * Kennedy Polamalu (born 1963), American football coach and former college football player * Kennedy L. Potter (died 1933), American politician * Kennedy J. Reed, American physicist * Kennedy Russell (1883–1954), British composer * Kennedy Simmonds (born 1936), Saint Kitts and Nevis politician * Kennedy St-Pierre (born 1992), Mauritian professional boxer *

Kennedy Stewart (Canadian politician) Edward Charles Kennedy Stewart (born November 8, 1966) is a Canadian politician and academic who served as the 40th mayor of Vancouver from 2018 to 2022. He previously was the member of Parliament (MP) for the riding of Burnaby—Douglas (2011� ...

(born 1966), Canadian politician * Kennedy Stewart (Irish politician) (1882–1964), Irish politician * Kennedy Thomson (1936–1996), British television presenter * Kennedy Trevaskis (1915–1990), British colonial official and army officer * Kennedy Tsimba (born 1974), South African professional rugby coach and former player * Kennedy Venkersammy (born 1951), Guyanese former professional cricketer * Kennedy John Victor (born 1966), professionally known as Vikram, Indian actor * Kennedy Winston (born 1984), American professional basketball player * Kennedy Wong (born 1963), Hong Kong solicitor

Females with the name

* Kennedy Burke (born 1997), American professional basketball player * Kennedy Faulknor (born 1999), Canadian soccer player * Kennedy Fraser (born 1948), American writer * Kennedy Goss (born 1996), Canadian competitive swimmer * Kennedy Holmes, American singer * Kennedy Marchment (born 1996), Canadian professional ice hockey player * Kennedy McMann (born 1996), American actress * Lisa Kennedy Montgomery (born 1972), known mononymously as Kennedy, American political commentator *

Kennedy Summers Kennedy Summers (born March 3, 1987) is a German-born American model, actress and stock trader. She was Playboy Playmate of the Year in 2014. Early life Summers was born in Berlin, to a military family, and raised in Hampton, Virginia. Her fath ...

(born 1987), American model and actress