ThinkabaraKennedy: meaning and origin
Kennedy
“Helmeted chief; from an Irish surname”
About the name Kennedy
Kennedy is a girl’s name from the Irish tradition. Its meaning is “helmeted chief; from an Irish surname”. Names from Irish Gaelic, often linked to nature, saints and heroes of old Irish stories — like Aiden, Maeve, Ronan and Keira.
It has a modern feel and has become more common in the US in recent decades.
More names with a similar meaning: royal names: king, queen and noble.
Tips before you choose
- Say the full name out loud with your last name, and with any middle name.
- Check the initials — and what they spell.
- Think about nicknames kids might make from it.
- Write it down: is the spelling easy for teachers and friends?
More Irish names
- Aoife 👧Beauty, radiance · Irish
- Bridget 👧Strength, exalted one · Irish
- Ciara 👧Dark-haired · Irish
- Erin 👧Ireland · Irish
- Finley 🧒Fair-haired warrior · Irish
- Keira 👧Little dark one · Irish
- Lennon 🧒Lover; from an Irish surname · Irish
- Maeve 👧She who intoxicates; a legendary queen of Connacht · Irish
- Niamh 👧Bright, radiant; a goddess in Irish legend · Irish
- Nora 👧Honor; also a short form of Eleanor · Irish
- Quinn 👧Wise, counsel; from an Irish surname · Irish
- Riley 🧒Courageous; also a rye meadow · Irish
Sibling name ideas (Irish, boys)
- Aiden 👦Little fire · Irish
- Brendan 👦Prince; Saint Brendan the Navigator · Irish
- Cillian 👦Little church; also bright-headed · Irish
- Connor 👦Lover of hounds · Irish
- Cormac 👦Son of the charioteer · Irish
- Declan 👦Full of goodness; an Irish saint · Irish
- Finn 👦Fair, white; the hero Fionn mac Cumhaill · Irish
- Liam 👦Strong-willed warrior; the Irish short form of William · Irish
More girl names starting with K
- Katya 👧Pure; a form of Katherine · Slavic
- Kavya 👧Poetry · Sanskrit / Indian
- Keira 👧Little dark one · Irish
- Keisha 👧Favorite, alive · African American
- Kiana 👧Divine; a Hawaiian form of Diana · Hawaiian
- Kiara 👧Light, bright; a modern name with Italian and Irish echoes · African American
Questions and answers
What does the name Kennedy mean?
Kennedy is a name of Irish origin. It means: helmeted chief; from an Irish surname.
Is Kennedy a boy or girl name?
Kennedy is usually given to girls.
How many syllables does Kennedy have?
Kennedy has 7 letters and about 3 syllables.
Is Kennedy a popular name?
Yes. Kennedy has been near the top of US baby-name lists in recent years. Names marked “popular now” have been near the top of US baby-name lists in recent years. This is an approximate guide, not an official ranking; see the Social Security Administration’s baby names site for official counts.