The first name Kenny
A boy’s name.
Pronounced /ˈkɛni/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
From Kenneth or Ken + -y (diminutive form).
Kenny is a short form of
.From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 36 boys were named Kenny, making it the 873rd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2009, with 53 births (#610).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Kenny with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Kenny at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 155 boys born in the United States were named Kenny, the 1,271st most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1960, when 1,934 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 Kenny
89 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Kenny CunninghamCosta Rican association football player, born 1985
- Kenny BakerBritish actor and musician (1934–2016)
- Kenny ClarkeAmerican jazz drummer (1914–1985)
- Kenny TeteDutch association football player (born 1995)
- Kenny OrtegaAmerican television and film director, producer, choreographer, born 1950
- Kenny ChesneyAmerican country musician, born 1968
- Kenny AchesonBritish racing driver, born 1957
- Kenny SansomEnglish footballer (born 1958)
- Kenny HarrisonAmerican triple jumper and long jumper, born 1965
- Kenny JohnsonAmerican actor, born 1963
- Kenny DorhamAmerican jazz trumpeter, singer, and composer (1924–1972)
- Kenny LalaFrench footballer, born 1991
Questions
- What does the name Kenny mean?
- From Kenneth or Ken + -y (diminutive form).
- How popular is the name Kenny?
- In 2025, 36 boys born in England and Wales were named Kenny, ranking 873rd. Its peak was 2009, with 53 births.
- Is Kenny a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 52,479 US babies named Kenny since 1880 were boys.
- When was Kenny most popular?
- 1960 in the United States, when 1,934 babies were named Kenny, its highest rank at 169th.
- How do you pronounce Kenny?
- Kenny is /ˈkɛni/, 2 syllables.
- Is Kenny also a surname?
- Yes. Kenny is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.