Kenan is of Turkish origin, meaning 'generous'. It gained popularity through the Ottoman Empire and has since been adopted by other cultures. The name was notably borne by Kenan Evren, a prominent figure in modern Turkish history.
The name Kenan saw a peak in popularity in the year 1991 with nine births recorded that year. Over the span of these years (1985-2010), there were a total of thirty births with the name Kenan.