Kennedy is a name of Irish origin and it means "helmeted chief." The name was originally an Irish surname that was derived from the Old Irish word "Cinneideach," which referred to a chief or leader with helmet or helmeted head. The name has been popular among Irish families for centuries, but it gained international recognition when it became associated with the American Kennedy family, who held prominent political positions in the United States during the mid-20th century.
The most famous member of the Kennedy clan is John F. Kennedy, who served as the 35th President of the United States from 1961 until his assassination in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963. He was the youngest person ever elected to the presidency at the age of 43, and he remains one of the most popular presidents in American history.
Kennedy's younger brother, Robert F. Kennedy, also served as a prominent politician, serving as the U.S. Attorney General under his brother's administration before being elected to the U.S. Senate from New York in 1964. He was assassinated while running for president himself in 1968.
Despite its association with the American political dynasty, Kennedy is not just an Irish name; it has also become popular among families of other ethnic backgrounds who appreciate its strong and regal connotations. Today, Kennedy remains a popular given name for boys and girls alike, and it continues to be associated with leadership, strength, and courage.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Kennedy has seen significant fluctuations in popularity over time in the United States.
In the early years, from 1957 to 1985, the number of births with the name Kennedy remained relatively low, ranging from 5 to 17 births per year. However, starting in 1986, there was a notable increase in popularity, with 25 births that year.
The trend continued to rise steadily throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s. In 1994, there were 472 births, and this number more than doubled by 1995 with 1235 births. The peak popularity of the name Kennedy was reached in 2014 with 4497 births.
However, after reaching its peak, the popularity of the name began to decline gradually. From 2015 onwards, the number of births with the name Kennedy decreased annually, with 3690 births in 2019 and 3071 births in 2022.
Despite this recent decrease in popularity, the total number of births with the name Kennedy from 1957 to 2022 is significant, reaching a total of 87810 births over these years. This demonstrates that while the name's popularity has waxed and waned over time, it has nonetheless maintained a consistent presence in American naming culture.