ChatGPT
Claude
Gemini
Perplexity
The short answer
Kennedy is a name used for both boys and girls, taken from an Irish surname that is the Anglicized form of Ó Cinnéidigh, itself derived from the given name Cennétig. Behind the Name notes it has sometimes been given in honor of assassinated U.S. president John F. Kennedy, and that it was popularized as a girls' name by television host Lisa Kennedy Montgomery, known simply as Kennedy. It is pronounced KEN-ə-dee. In the United States it ranked #85 for girls in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name derives Kennedy from an Irish surname, the Anglicized form of Irish Gaelic Ó Cinnéidigh, itself derived from the given name Cennétig. As a first name it has two documented boosts: use in honor of assassinated U.S. president John F. Kennedy (1917-1963), and popularization for girls by Lisa Kennedy Montgomery (1972-), known professionally as Kennedy, host of MTV's Alternative Nation from 1992 to 1997.
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Irish Gaelic | Ó Cinnéidigh | descendant of Cennétig (surname) |
Popularity
Kennedy ranked #85 for girls in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration). The given tier-2 list shows only a girls' rank for 2025.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #85 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: None documented.
Variants: Kennedi
Related names: None documented.
What the name feels like
Kennedy carries the polished, surname-as-first-name feel common to modern American names, with an added layer of political and pop-culture resonance from its two famous namesakes.
Style tags: surname name, unisex, modern, political association
Editorial interpretation: These style impressions are editorial judgment, not linguistic fact.
If you like this name
Names that share Kennedy's Irish-surname shape or its unisex, modern American use.
Similar by style
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kennedy mean?
Kennedy comes from an Irish surname, the Anglicized form of Ó Cinnéidigh, derived from the given name Cennétig; Behind the Name does not give a further English gloss for the root.
Is Kennedy a boy's name or a girl's name?
Both. Behind the Name lists Kennedy as feminine and masculine, and current SSA data shows it ranking for girls.
Is Kennedy a popular name?
Yes. Kennedy ranked #85 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Kennedy — supports etymology, pronunciation, variants, history.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
