Kennedy

Meaning of Kennedy

Derived from an Irish surname, meaning "helmeted chief" or "misshapen head."

Kennedy has Irish roots — browse every Irish baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Kennedy

Kennedy has held fairly steady, sitting around #85 in 2025 after peaking at #54 in 2014.

Kennedy as a boy's name

Kennedy is also used as a boy's name. It means "helmeted chief" or "misshapen head". It comes from an Irish surname.

Notable people named Kennedy

• Caroline Kennedy
  Author and former U.S. ambassador
• Jamie Kennedy
  Actress and model
• Kennedy McMann
  Actress (Nancy Drew series)
• Kennedy Summers
  Model and Playboy Playmate
• Kennedy Davenport
  Drag performer and entertainer

More Irish names

Questions about the name Kennedy

What does the name Kennedy mean?

Kennedy means derived from an irish surname, meaning "helmeted chief" or "misshapen head.", and it comes from Irish origins.

Is Kennedy a boy's or a girl's name?

Kennedy is used for both boys and girls in the United States, which makes it a unisex name.

How popular is the name Kennedy?

In 2025, Kennedy ranked #85 for girls, up from #89 the year before.

When was Kennedy most popular?

Kennedy peaked at #54 in 2014.