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 info ...

given name 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 t ...

. The name is an

Anglicised Anglicisation is the process by which a place or person becomes influenced by English culture or British culture, or a process of cultural and/or linguistic change in which something non-English becomes English. It can also refer to the influen ...

form of a masculine given name in the

Irish language Irish (an Caighdeán Oifigiúil, Standard Irish: ), also known as Gaelic, is a Goidelic languages, Goidelic language of the Insular Celtic branch of the Celtic language family, which is a part of the Indo-European languages, Indo-European lang ...

Etymology

According to

Patrick Hanks Patrick Hanks (born 24 March 1940) is an English lexicographer, corpus linguist, and onomastician. He has edited dictionaries of general language, as well as dictionaries of personal names. Background Hanks was educated at Ardingly College, ...

and Flavia Hodges, the given name ''Kennedy'' is an

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 ...

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 a ...

as ''Uarraig''. This name is

etymologically Etymology () The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p. 633 "Etymology /ˌɛtɪˈmɒlədʒi/ the study of the class in words and the way their meanings have changed throughout time". is the study of the history of the form of words ...

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 Kennedy may refer to: People * John F. Kennedy (1917–1963), 35th president of the United States * John Kennedy (Louisiana politician), (born 1951), US Senator from Louisiana * Kennedy (surname), a family name (including a list of persons with ...

''. 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 creati ...

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 languag ...

, 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, a ...

, 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 territor ...

, ''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 t ...

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 An economy is an area of th ...

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 Kennedy Ashia is a Ghanaian professional footballer. He was part of the Ghana national U-20 team that won silver at the 2013 African Youth Championships and bronze at the 2013 FIFA U-20 Tournament played in Turkey. He plays as an attacking midf ...

(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 Kennedy Bakircioglu (born 2 November 1980) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He is best remembered for his time with Hammarby IF, with whom he won the 2001 Allsvenskan and 2014 Superettan titles. He also re ...

(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 Kennedy Brooks (born October 8, 1998) is an American football running back for the Philadelphia Stars of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at Oklahoma. Early years Brooks attended Mansfield High School in ...

(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. He ...

(born 2002), American basketball player *

Kennedy Chihuri Kennedy Chihuri (born 2 April 1969) is a retired Zimbabwean footballer who played 200 matches in the Czech First League, almost all of them for FK Viktoria Žižkov. He was the first black player in the Czech league. He won the Czech Cup wi ...

(born 1969), Zimbabwean former football player * Reuben Asberry Jr., professionally known as

Kennedy Davenport Reuben Asberry Jr., better known by the stage name Kennedy Davenport (born September 9, 1980), is a drag queen, television personality, and dancer from Dallas, Texas, who came to international attention on the seventh season of '' RuPaul's Dra ...

, American drag queen *

Kennedy Edwin Kennedy Edwin is an Iban language Malaysian musician who serves as the rhythm and vocals for hard rock band Masterpiece. Along with his brother Willy Edwin, he is one of the founding members of Masterpiece, and has since released five studio ...

(born 1976), Malaysian musician *

Kennedy Eriba Kennedy Okwe Eriba (born December 21, 1990, in Jos) is a Nigerian football player who currently plays for FK Jelgava in the Latvian Higher League. Career Eriba began his career with Mighty Jets F.C. where he played youth football for a few yea ...

(born 1990), Nigerian professional football player * Kennedy William Gordy (born 1964), professionally known as Rockwell, American former singer *

Kennedy Graham Kennedy Gollan Montrose Graham (born 1946) is a New Zealand politician and former Member of Parliament for the Green Party. He has served in the New Zealand Foreign Service for sixteen years, and lectured at the University of Canterbury and Vic ...

(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 Kennedy Ihenacho (born December 16, 1990) is a Nigerian former footballer. He moved to Kuwait after his contract expiration with the VSI TAMPA BAY FC in the United States USL league 2013 season. Kennedy Ihenacho has played for Roi Et FC in Tha ...

(born 1990), Nigerian professional football player *

Kennedy Izuka The Northern Mariana Islands national football team represents the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in international men's football. The team is controlled by the governing body for football in the Northern Mariana Islands, the Nor ...

, American soccer player *

Kennedy Jones (journalist) William Kennedy Jones (4 May 1865 – 20 October 1921) was a British journalist, editor, businessman, newspaper manager and Member of Parliament. Early years Born in Glasgow, "K.J." (as he was known to his friends) was educated at a local hig ...

(1865–1921), British journalist *

Kennedy Jones (musician) Kennedy Jones or Jonesey (1 August 1900 – 6 September 1990) was an American guitarist and music writer. He was born on a farm in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. He received his inspiration from his mother Alice who played several instrumen ...

(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 Kennedy Kimwetich (born 1 January 1973) is a retired Kenyan middle distance runner who specialised in the 800 metres. He reached the final of the 1999 World Championships finishing seventh. He is the Kenyan record holder in the indoor 1000 me ...

(born 1973), Kenyan former runner * Kennedy Kithuka (born 1989), Kenyan-American runner * Kennedy Lindsay (1927–1997), British politician * Kennedy Macdonald (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 recognise ...

, Irish track and field athlete *

Kennedy McIntosh Kennedy McIntosh (January 21, 1949 – March 6, 2009Kennedy McKinney (born 1966), American former professional boxer *

Kennedy Meeks Kennedy Rashod Meeks (born February 5, 1995) is an American professional basketball player who last played for Cholet Basket of the LNB Pro A. He played college basketball for North Carolina. He is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina. High scho ...

(born 1995), American professional basketball player *

Kennedy Moretti Kennedy Moretti (born 1966) is a Brazilian pianist and music professor. Biography Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Kennedy Moretti studied piano at the São Paulo University and later at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music (Budapest, Hungary) and in ...

(born 1966), Brazilian pianist *

Kennedy Mudenda Kennedy Mudenda (born 13 January 1988) is a Zambian international footballer who plays as a midfielder for Power Dynamos. Mudenda has made several appearances for the Zambia national football team, playing for the side that reached the finals of ...

(born 1988), Zambian professional football player * Kennedy Mweene (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 Kennedy Nkeyasen (born April 7, 1976) is a former free safety (converted from running back) who played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. Nkeyasen was drafted out of college by Saskatchewan (18th overall) in 1999. ...

(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 The 400 metres, or 400-meter dash, is a sprint event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the ...

(born 1971), Kenyan former sprinter *

Kennedy Odede Kennedy Odede is a Kenyan social entrepreneur and author. Odede is the co-founder and CEO of Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), a movement based in Nairobi, Kenya, and New York, USA. Odede was awarded the 2010 Echoing Green Fellowship an ...

, Kenyan entrepreneur *

Kennedy Mong'are Okong'o Kennedy Mong'are Okong'o (born 1 March 1969) is the first and immediate former Senator of Nyamira County, Kenya. He was elected Senator of Nyamira County under Ford Kenya which was part of the CORD Alliance. He won the Nyamira seat by 49,615 v ...

(born 1969), Kenyan politician *

Kennedy Okonkwo Kennedy Okonkwo (born 12 October 1977) is a Nigerian businessman, philanthropist, and real-estate entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Nedcomoaks Limited. Early life and education Kennedy hails from Ojoto, Anambra State. Kennedy was bor ...

(born 1977), Nigerian businessman * Kennedy Omogi (born 1983) *

Kennedy Ondiek Kennedy Ondiek (December 12, 1966 – July 14, 2011) was a Kenyan runner, who specialised in sprinting. He competed at the Olympics and World Championships. Ondiek participated in three events the 1988 Olympic Games. He reached the quarterfin ...

(1966–2011), Kenyan runner * Kennedy J. P. Orton (1872–1930), British chemist *

Kennedy Osei Kennedy Osei (born 21 October 1966) is a retired Ghanaian middle-distance runner who specialized in the 800 metres. He won the bronze medal at the 1991 All-Africa Games. He also competed at the World Championships in 1993 and 1997 as well as the W ...

(born 1966), Ghanaian former runner *

Kennedy Otieno Kennedy Otieno Obuya (born 11 March 1972), also known as Kennedy Otieno, is a former Kenyan international cricketer. A right-handed batsman and wicketkeeper, Otieno is the brother of fellow internationals Collins and David Obuya. Domestic care ...

(born 1972), Kenyan former professional cricketer *

Kennedy Polamalu Kennedy Polamalu (born November 22, 1963) is an American football coach and former player who currently is the running backs coach for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He most recently served as the running backs coach ...

(born 1963), American football coach and former college football player * Kennedy L. Potter (died 1933), American politician *

Kennedy J. Reed Kennedy J. Reed (May 24, 1944 – June 20, 2023) was an American theoretical atomic physicist in the Theory Group in the Physics & Advanced Technologies Directorate at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and a founder of the National P ...

, American physicist * Kennedy Russell (1883–1954), British composer *

Kennedy Simmonds Sir Kennedy Alphonse Simmonds, KCMG (born 12 April 1936), is a Saint Kittitian and Nevisian politician who served as the first prime minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis from 1983 to 1995. Life and career Simmonds was born in Basseterre on 12 Ap ...

(born 1936), Saint Kitts and Nevis politician *

Kennedy St-Pierre Joseph Kennedy St-Pierre (born 23 October 1992) is a Mauritian boxer who represented Mauritius at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where he competed in the men's heavyweight competition. He is a two time African Games gold medalist ...

(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 Kennedy Thomson (4 April 1936 – 22 May 1996) was a Scottish broadcaster and actor, best known for his work at Grampian Television. Born in Glasgow) Thomson, studied drama at Jordanhill College and Glasgow University and gained a diploma from ...

(1936–1996), British television presenter * Kennedy Trevaskis (1915–1990), British colonial official and army officer *

Kennedy Tsimba Kennedy Chiedza Tsimba (Zimbabwean pronunciation: Shining Light; born 23 July 1974) is a 2012 World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee, South African professional Rugby coach and former player who is the current Director of Rugby at St Alban's College ...

(born 1974), South African professional rugby coach and former player *

Kennedy Venkersammy Kennedy Dasrath Venkersammy (born 12 February 1951) is a former international cricketer who represented the United States national cricket team, United States national team between 1982 and 1986. He was born in Guyana, and before emigrating to th ...

(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 Kennedy Wong Ying-ho BBS, JP (born 23 February 1963 in Hong Kong) is a Hong Kong solicitor. He is a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong. He was also the member of the Provisional Legislative Council which existed from 1996 to 98 and co ...

(born 1963), Hong Kong solicitor

Females with the name

Kennedy Burke Kennedy Valentine Burke (born February 14, 1997) is an American professional basketball player. She was drafted by the Dallas Wings in the 2019 WNBA draft, and has played for the Indiana Fever, Seattle Storm, and the Washington Mystics in the WN ...

(born 1997), American professional basketball player * Kennedy Faulknor (born 1999), Canadian soccer player *

Kennedy Fraser Kennedy Fraser (born 1948) is an American essayist, and fashion writer. Life She is a native of England. Her work appeared in ''Vogue'', ''The New Yorker'', where she wrote for William Shawn. Awards * 1994 Whiting Award The Whiting Award is a ...

(born 1948), American writer *

Kennedy Goss Kennedy Goss (born August 19, 1996) is a Canadian competitive swimmer. Goss won 7 medals at the 2013 Canada Games, including 5 gold. In 2016, she was named to Canada's Olympic team for the 2016 Summer Olympics as part of the 4x200 metre freestyl ...

(born 1996), Canadian competitive swimmer * Kennedy Holmes, American singer *

Kennedy Marchment Kennedy Marchment (born December 6, 1996) is a Canadian ice hockey forward, currently playing with the Connecticut Whale of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF). Playing career Across 142 NCAA games with the St. Lawrence Saints women's ice ...

(born 1996), Canadian professional ice hockey player * Kennedy McMann (born 1996), American actress * Lisa Kennedy Montgomery (born 1972), known mononymously as

, 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