Kenneth is a distinctive choice, ranked #968 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Kenneth in their class.
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UK Rank 2024
#968
US Rank #284
About the Name Kenneth
Kenneth is climbing rapidly up the charts, having climbed 182 places in just five years. Its best recorded rank was #345 in 1996 — and current momentum suggests it could challenge that mark again. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Kenneth is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it ranks even higher at #284, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Kenneth
Unlikely. With around 32 UK babies named Kenneth per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Kenneth in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Kenneth is currently rising in popularity in the UK, up 182 places over the last five years to #968 in 2024. If this trend continues, it will become more common in classrooms over the next decade.
Kenneth is more popular in the US (#284) than in the UK (#968). 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 Kenneth include: Kenneth Jarecke — Kenneth Jarecke is an American photojournalist, author, editor, and war correspondent.; Kenneth Rogoff — Kenneth Saul Rogoff is an American economist and chess Grandmaster.; Kenneth Manning — Kenneth R..
Kenneth appears in the US top 500 at #284 in 2024 — moderately popular in America, though less so than in the UK.
32
UK babies named Kenneth (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↑ 182 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Kenneth
Likely around 1 other Kenneth in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Kenneth
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Kenneth Eugene Parnell was an American convicted sex offender, child rapist, and kidnapper infamously known for committing the abductions of 7-year-old Steven Stayner in Merced, California, in 1972 and 5-year-old Timothy White in Ukiah, California, in 1980. He was convicted in 2004 for attempting to purchase a child for sex and died in prison.
Kenneth Jarecke is an American photojournalist, author, editor, and war correspondent. He has worked in more than 80 countries and has been featured in LIFE magazine, National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, and others.
Kenneth MacAlpin (Medieval Gaelic: Cináed mac Ailpin; Scottish Gaelic: Coinneach mac Ailpein; c. 800 - 810 – 13 February 858) or Kenneth I was King of Dál Riada (841–850), and King of the Picts (848–858), of likely Gaelic origin.
Kenneth Charles Cope was an English actor and scriptwriter. He was best known for his roles as Marty Hopkirk in Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), Jed Stone in Coronation Street, Ray Hilton in Brookside, Sid in The Damned and as a minor member of the Carry On team.