Kenai
Boy name · #713 in 2025 · Uniqueness 29/100
In 2025, 377 baby boys were named Kenai, placing it at #713 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2068, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 4,775 boys born in 2025 was named Kenai.
Babies named Kenai per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 33-year story
Kenai first appears in the Social Security records in 1992, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 377 babies and a rank of #710. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Kenai against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kenai in class?
Kenai scores 29 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "popular" band. A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Kenai is most common
Geography matters for names, and Kenai is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Kenais were TX (38), CA (34), FL (34), CO (19), AZ (17). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Kenai
Statistically, parents drawn to Kenai tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kasai, Jakai, Zakai, Azai, and Khai.
KasaiJakaiZakaiAzaiKhaiSakaiMasaiAdonai
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kenai | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 377 | #710 |
| 2024 | 327 | #772 |
| 2023 | 235 | #960 |
| 2022 | 202 | #1078 |
| 2021 | 141 | #1320 |
| 2020 | 144 | #1271 |
| 2019 | 122 | #1432 |
| 2018 | 93 | #1687 |
| 2017 | 98 | #1623 |
| 2016 | 82 | #1828 |
| 2015 | 68 | #2068 |
| 2014 | 61 | #2205 |
| 2013 | 52 | #2402 |
| 2012 | 37 | #3059 |
| 2011 | 35 | #3164 |
| 2010 | 41 | #2874 |
| 2009 | 37 | #3105 |
| 2008 | 40 | #2946 |
| 2007 | 42 | #2811 |
| 2006 | 33 | #3227 |
| 2005 | 42 | #2614 |
| 2004 | 52 | #2208 |
| 2003 | 9 | #7245 |
| 2001 | 11 | #6013 |
| 1999 | 5 | #9912 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Kenai a popular boy name?
Kenai ranked #713 among boys in 2025 with 377 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2068.
When was the name Kenai most popular?
Kenai peaked in 2025, when 377 American boys received the name (ranked #710 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Kenai?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 4,775 newborn American boys was named Kenai. It scores 29/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "popular".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.