Kenneth
Meaning of Kenneth
Kenneth traces its roots to the proud Scottish Gaelic names Cináed, “born of fire,” and Coinneach, “handsome,” a dual heritage that lets parents choose whether they wish to gift their son the spark of a flame or the charm of good looks. Over the centuries it has crowned kings—most famously Kenneth MacAlpin, the first King of the Scots—and later traveled across the Atlantic, where it still hovers in the American Top 300. Kenneth carries an easy, confident rhythm on the tongue (KEN-ith), and short forms like Ken or Kenny add a breezy, cricket-after-school friendliness. Pop-culture buffs may picture Shakespearean actor-director Sir Kenneth Branagh, while music lovers might recall kilt-clad bagpipers marching to stirring Highland tunes. For Indian families seeking a global yet dignified choice, Kenneth offers the same versatility as a well-stitched kurta: formal enough for boardrooms, relaxed enough for backyard gully cricket, and sprinkled with just the right amount of old-world romance. In short, it is a name that stands as steady as a banyan tree, yet still flickers with the playful warmth of a diya at Diwali.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as KEN-ith (/ˈkɛnəθ/)
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Notable People Named Kenneth
| Kenneth Clark was a British art historian, museum director, and TV broadcaster best known for the 1969 Civilisation series and his expertise in Italian Renaissance art, especially Leonardo da Vinci. |
| Sir Kenneth Charles Branagh is a Belfast born British actor and filmmaker, trained at RADA where he later served as president, a recipient of an Academy Award, BAFTAs, Emmys, a Golden Globe and an Olivier, knighted in 2012, honored by Belfast in 2018, and ranked among the top Irish film actors in 2020. |
| Kenneth Vermeer is a Dutch professional goalkeeper for PEC Zwolle in the Eredivisie. |
| Kenneth Baker, Baron Baker of Dorking, is a British Conservative politician who served as an MP from 1968 to 1997, was Home Secretary and Education Secretary, chaired the Conservative Party, and is a life member of the Tory Reform Group. |
| Kenneth Irvine Chenault is an American businessman who led American Express as chairman and CEO from 2001 to 2018, becoming the third Black Fortune 500 CEO, and since 2018 has served as chairman and managing director of General Catalyst. |
| Kenneth Walker III is an American former professional football wide receiver who played football and sprinted at UCLA before joining the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the CFL and the Pittsburgh Maulers in the USFL. |
| Kenneth Meshoe - Kenneth Rasalabe Joseph Meshoe is a South African evangelist and politician who has led the African Christian Democratic Party since 1993 and has served in Parliament since 1994, making him one of its longest serving members. |
