Kennedy is a distinctive choice, ranked #1584 in 2025. Your child is likely to be the only Kennedy in their class.
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UK Rank 2025
#1584
US Rank #85
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About the Name Kennedy
Kennedy has seen a notable decline in recent years, dropping 457 places in five years. It was most popular in 1997 at #357 — parents choosing it today are making a deliberately counter-trend decision. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Kennedy is uncommon in the UK, so your child is very likely to be the only Kennedy in their class.
In the US it ranks even higher at #89, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
⭐ Famous People Named Kennedy
Joan Bennett Kennedy — Virginia Joan Bennett Kennedy was an American socialite, author, and advocate.
John F. Kennedy — John Fitzgerald Kennedy, also known as JFK, was the 35th president of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963.
Ethel Kennedy — Ethel Kennedy was an American human rights advocate.
Biographical summaries are shortened from Wikipedia and are used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence; those summaries remain available under that same licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Kennedy
Unlikely. With around 19 UK babies named Kennedy per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Kennedy in their class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Kennedy is declining: down 592 places since 2020, to #1,584 in 2025. It peaked at #357 in 1997.
Kennedy is more popular in the US (#89) than in the UK (#1449). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Kennedy include: Anthony Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy and Kennedy curse. Short summaries for each appear below.
Kennedy ranks #89 in the US (2024), making it comfortably inside the American top 100. It's well-liked on both sides of the Atlantic.
19
UK babies named Kennedy (2025)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 592 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Kennedy
Almost certainly the only Kennedy in the class
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UK Popularity (1996–2025)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2025)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Kennedy
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Anthony McLeod Kennedy is an American lawyer who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1988 until his retirement in 2018.