Kenan
- Pronunciation
- [Ke-nan]
- Gender
- Male
- Meaning
- Malawi Name. Meaning Unknown.
- Origin
- African
Kenan Popularity Snapshot
Across the entire US Social Security Administration record (1880–2024), 4,460 baby boys have been named Kenan. The name peaked in 2024 with 187 US births that year (rank #1131). In 2024, ranked #1131 nationally.
Top States for Kenan
Based on 1910–2024 US SSA state-level records, the three states with the most Kenan births are: North Carolina (295), California (292), New York (262).
Other African-Origin Names Like Kenan
If you like Kenan's African origin, consider these related names: Aamori, Abasi, Abayomi, Abba, Abdalla. Browse all African names →
5-Letter Names Starting with K
Names with Kenan's exact length and starting letter: Kaage, Kacee, Kacey, Kacia, Kacie.
Quick Facts About Kenan
Where in the US Is Kenan Most Popular?
Average boy-name rank within each state across 2016–2025 SSA records. A lower number means the name appears closer to the top of that state's boys-name rankings — a per-capita measure that isn't biased toward large states. For Kenan the strongest states are Michigan, New York, New Jersey.
Strongest boys-name states
| # | State | Avg rank | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | #627 | 91 |
| 2 | New York | #754 | 95 |
| 3 | New Jersey | #785 | 25 |
| 4 | Illinois | #787 | 58 |
| 5 | North Carolina | #810 | 51 |
Weakest boys-name states
| # | State | Avg rank | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina | #810 | 51 |
| 2 | Illinois | #787 | 58 |
| 3 | New Jersey | #785 | 25 |
| 4 | New York | #754 | 95 |
| 5 | Michigan | #627 | 91 |
Source: SSA state-level baby-name dataset 2016–2025. States with fewer than 3 years of data for Kenan in this window are excluded. Births < 5 in a given state-year are suppressed by SSA for privacy.
Variant Forms
| Name | Meaning | Gender | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keenan | Sharp | Male | English |
Looking for names like Kenan?
A dedicated page with 60+ related names — spelling variants, rhymes, alliterations, same-origin matches, and shared meaning concepts — lives at its own URL so each kind of similarity gets a deeper treatment than fits here.
Compare Kenan to Other Popular Names
Side-by-side popularity charts and crossover years for Kenan against today's most popular boys-name peers (top 8 by US births in the last 10 years of SSA records).