Kennedy
Boy name · #1843 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Kennedy? In official American birth records, Kennedy has been tracked continuously since 1912, giving it 113 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 86 baby boys were named Kennedy, placing it at #1843 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1141, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 20,930 boys born in 2025 was named Kennedy.
Babies named Kennedy per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 113-year story
Kennedy first appears in the Social Security records in 1912, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1964, when 229 boys were named Kennedy — good for #516 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. 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 Kennedy against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kennedy in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Kennedy is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Kennedy will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Kennedy is most common
State-level data for Kennedy is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Kennedy
Statistically, parents drawn to Kennedy tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Eddy, Lyndon, Freddy, Kenny, and Lenny.
EddyLyndonFreddyKennyLennyAbdulJacquesDomenico
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kennedy | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 86 | #1837 |
| 2024 | 96 | #1724 |
| 2023 | 105 | #1640 |
| 2022 | 104 | #1652 |
| 2021 | 104 | #1621 |
| 2020 | 142 | #1286 |
| 2019 | 135 | #1337 |
| 2018 | 126 | #1396 |
| 2017 | 140 | #1293 |
| 2016 | 171 | #1130 |
| 2015 | 165 | #1141 |
| 2014 | 158 | #1179 |
| 2013 | 154 | #1169 |
| 2012 | 164 | #1120 |
| 2011 | 125 | #1350 |
| 2010 | 159 | #1159 |
| 2009 | 150 | #1202 |
| 2008 | 166 | #1105 |
| 2007 | 153 | #1157 |
| 2006 | 179 | #1025 |
| 2005 | 173 | #995 |
| 2004 | 183 | #925 |
| 2003 | 170 | #959 |
| 2002 | 195 | #848 |
| 2001 | 185 | #867 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Kennedy?
In official American birth records, the name Kennedy first appeared in 1912 (over 113 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 113 years.
Is Kennedy a popular boy name?
Kennedy ranked #1843 among boys in 2025 with 86 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1141.
When was the name Kennedy most popular?
Kennedy peaked in 1964, when 229 American boys received the name (ranked #516 that year). Since 1964 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Kennedy?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 20,930 newborn American boys was named Kennedy. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.