The first name Kenan
A boy’s name from Hebrew.
2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Hebrew origin
* Borrowed from Hebrew קֵינָן (qēnå̄n). * Alternatively, possibly a variant of Keenan, from Irish Cianán, a diminutive of Cian.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 22 boys were named Kenan, making it the 1,276th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1998, with 68 births (#345).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Kenan with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Kenan at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 184 boys born in the United States were named Kenan, the 1,148th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2024, when 187 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Kenan
7 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Kenan ThompsonAmerican comedian and actor (born 1978)
- Kenan KodroBosnian-Spanish association football player, born 1993
- Kenan BajramovićBosnian basketball player, born 1981
- Kenan HasagićBosnian footballer (born 1980)
- Kenan MalikEnglish writer, lecturer and broadcaster, born 1960
- Kenan ToibibouComorian footballer, born 2004
- Kenan KerimovAzerbaijani footballer, born 1976
More Hebrew boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Kenan mean?
- * Borrowed from Hebrew קֵינָן (qēnå̄n). * Alternatively, possibly a variant of Keenan, from Irish Cianán, a diminutive of Cian.
- What is the origin of the name Kenan?
- * Borrowed from Hebrew קֵינָן (qēnå̄n). * Alternatively, possibly a variant of Keenan, from Irish Cianán, a diminutive of Cian.
- How popular is the name Kenan?
- In 2025, 22 boys born in England and Wales were named Kenan, ranking 1,276th. Its peak was 1998, with 68 births.
- Is Kenan a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 4,675 US babies named Kenan since 1880 were boys.
- When was Kenan most popular?
- 2024 in the United States, when 187 babies were named Kenan, its highest rank at 1,134th.
- Is Kenan also a surname?
- Yes. Kenan is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.