Kennan is a unique and distinctive name of Irish origin. It is derived from the Irish surname "Ó Cennfinnáin," which translates to "descendant of Cennfinnán." The name Cennfinnán, in turn, comes from the Old Irish elements "cenn" meaning "head" or "chief," and "finnán" meaning "white" or "fair."
The name Kennan is not particularly common, but it has been used throughout history. One notable figure with this name was Kennan Smith, a Scottish explorer who accompanied Captain James Cook on his third voyage around the world in the late 18th century.
In terms of popularity, Kennan has never been among the most popular names. However, it has been used consistently enough that it is not considered extremely rare either. According to some sources, it has occasionally ranked among the top 2000 boys' names in the United States over the past few decades.
Overall, Kennan is a name with a strong Irish heritage and a unique sound that makes it stand out among more common names. Its meaning, "descendant of the fair-headed chief," adds to its appeal as a name that carries a sense of history and nobility.
Based on the provided statistics, we can observe several trends regarding the name Kennan in the United States:
* The peak year for babies named Kennan was 2000, with a total of 11 births recorded that year.
* The years with the least number of babies named Kennan were 1988 and 1996, each with only 5 births.
* From 1988 to 1998, there was an increase in the number of babies named Kennan. However, after reaching a high of 8 births in 1998, the popularity of the name began to decline.
* In more recent years (2008 and 2016), the number of babies named Kennan has remained steady at 5 births per year.
* Over the course of these years (1988-2016), a total of 53 babies were named Kennan in the United States.
It's important to note that while these statistics provide some insight into the popularity of the name Kennan over time, they do not reflect current trends or future predictions. For up-to-date information on baby naming preferences, one might consult more recent data from sources such as the Social Security Administration or other reliable demographic databases.