Kennedy
Boy name · #1843 in 2025 · Uniqueness 82/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Kennedy scores 82 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. 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
Geography matters for names, and Kennedy is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Kennedys were TX (10), GA (7), CA (6), FL (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 82/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
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.