Kenneth
A male given name from Scottish Gaelic, originally used in Scotland, popular in all English-speaking countries in the 20th century.
Proper noun
- A male given name from Scottish Gaelic, originally used in Scotland, popular in all English-speaking countries in the 20th century.
- Know, however, that among the soldiers of the Cross I am called Kenneth - Kenneth of the Couching Leopard; at home I have other titles, but they would sound harsh in an Eastern ear. - 1825, Sir Walter Scott, chapter...
- "The other one, his name was Kenneth, was born in February nineteen twenty-one." "All these Kens," she said. - 1998 Barbara Vine ( Ruth Rendell ): The Chimney Sweeper's Boy. →ISBN page 166
- A surname from Scottish Gaelic.
Origin
Anglicized form of two Goidelic names, Old Irish Cináed, the name of Scottish kings derived from Pictish *ᚉᚔᚅᚔᚑᚇ (Ciniod), and the saint's name Cainnech (literally “handsome”) (modern Scottish Gaelic Coinneach), as in the surname Mackenzie.