Kinney is a unique and distinctive given name of American origin. It is derived from an English surname that was originally used to denote someone who lived near or worked at a mill. The name is believed to have been derived from the Middle English word "kin," meaning "mill," and the suffix "-ey," which denotes a place or estate.
The use of Kinney as a given name is relatively recent, with its popularity increasing in the United States during the mid-to-late 20th century. It is thought to have been popularized by its use as a character name in various forms of media, such as the comic strip "Li'l Abner" and the television series "Cheers."
Despite its unconventional origins, Kinney does not have any specific meaning or symbolism attached to it. However, some people may associate it with the ideas of strength, resilience, and adaptability, given its connection to the industrial setting of a mill.
Today, Kinney is still considered an uncommon name, but it has gained some popularity in recent years, particularly among parents looking for unique and distinctive names for their children. Overall, Kinney is a name that stands out due to its unusual origins and unconventional sound.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Kinney has seen varied popularity over the years in the United States. The peak years for the name were between 1956 and 1966, with a high of 15 births in 1961.
During this period, the name maintained a consistent level of popularity, with an average of around 9 births per year from 1957 to 1963. This suggests that Kinney was a name that was widely recognized and used during this time.
However, the popularity of the name declined significantly after the late 1960s. Between 1972 and 1993, there were only five years where more than five babies were named Kinney, with most years seeing between zero to five births.
In total, over the period from 1922 to 1993, there were 354 babies named Kinney in the United States. This suggests that while Kinney was not one of the most popular names during this time, it was still a name that was used consistently throughout several decades.