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    The first name Kenna

    A girl’s name from Scottish Gaelic meaning “descendant of cionaodh”.

    Pronounced /ˈkɛnə/ 2 syllables Female Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Scottish Gaelic origin

    Kenna means “descendant of cionaodh” in Scottish Gaelic.

    * As a Scottish surname, shortened from McKenna. * As a Manx and Irish surname, from Ó Cionaodha /Ó Cionaoith (“descendant of Cionaodh”), a name usually Anglicized as Kenneth.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 3 girls were named Kenna, making it the 5,927th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2021, with 9 births (#2,711).

    0510 1996200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    127
    babies named Kenna, 1996–2025
    #5,927
    rank in 2025
    2021
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Kenna with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Kenna at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 357 girls born in the United States were named Kenna, the 759th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 2016, when 444 were.

    0250500 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    13,781
    babies named Kenna since 1880
    #759
    rank in 2025
    2016
    peak year

    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 Kenna

    1 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Kenna James
      American pornographic actress, born 1995

    More Scottish Gaelic girls’ names

    All 54 names of Scottish Gaelic origin

    Questions

    What does the name Kenna mean?
    Kenna means “descendant of cionaodh” in Scottish Gaelic.
    What is the origin of the name Kenna?
    * As a Scottish surname, shortened from McKenna. * As a Manx and Irish surname, from Ó Cionaodha /Ó Cionaoith (“descendant of Cionaodh”), a name usually Anglicized as Kenneth.
    How popular is the name Kenna?
    In 2025, 3 girls born in England and Wales were named Kenna, ranking 5,927th. Its peak was 2021, with 9 births.
    Is Kenna a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a girl's name: 98% of the 13,781 US babies named Kenna since 1880 were girls.
    When was Kenna most popular?
    2016 in the United States, when 444 babies were named Kenna, its highest rank at 661st.
    How do you pronounce Kenna?
    Kenna is /ˈkɛnə/, 2 syllables.
    Is Kenna also a surname?
    Yes. Kenna is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.