Kenyon Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Kenyon originates from Old English, meaning 'brave town'. It has evolved from the historical form Ceneton to its modern usage. The name carries traits of strength and tradition. There is no direct biblical relevance associated with it.
The name Kenyon is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Kenyon has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Kenyon' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2318th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1841st out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1548th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 856th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1119th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 864th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2162nd out of 23106 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 7159th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 14676th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 18096th out of 35406 names. Discover how the name 'Kenyon' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Kenyon"
Pronunciation
/ˈkɛnjən/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Kenyon is derived from a surname that originated from a place name in England. The place name itself is believed to have originated from the Old English 'cen', meaning 'royal' or 'brave', combined with 'tun', meaning 'town' or 'enclosure'.
Meaning
brave town
Language Evolution
Cenetun (Old English), Kenyon (Middle English), Kenyon (Modern English)
Historical Usage
Kenyon gained popularity as a given name in the 19th century, primarily in English-speaking countries, and has been used in various contexts since then.
Variants & Derivatives
Kenny, Ken
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Kenyon is perceived as a strong and traditional name, often associated with a sense of heritage and reliability.
Famous People
Kenyon Martin - Former professional basketball player, Kenyon College - A liberal arts college in Ohio
Explore More Kenyon Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Kenyon"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Kenyon"
"Kenyon" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 2318th of 7545 | 199 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1841st of 6773 | 283 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1548th of 7552 | 487 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 856th of 10718 | 1,440 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1119th of 16616 | 1,360 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 864th of 24088 | 3,391 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2162nd of 23106 | 786 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 7159th of 19264 | 94 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 14676th of 27321 | 42 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 18096th of 35406 | 51 |
Regional Popularity of "Kenyon" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
91.44% 1261st/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
73.67% 1139th/1546 |
- | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
63.27% 1409th/2227 |
- | - |
48.18% 1337th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
26.69% 784th/2937 |
28.37% 988th/3483 |
21.46% 755th/3518 |
25.25% 1021st/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
29.17% 1075th/3685 |
47.22% 2113th/4475 |
22.26% 1156th/5194 |
19.52% 1233rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
17.63% 808th/4582 |
26.74% 1381st/5164 |
10.58% 774th/7313 |
13.73% 1025th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
51.56% 2054th/3984 |
64.54% 2896th/4487 |
27.69% 1889th/6822 |
55.83% 3504th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Kenyon" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Kenyon"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Kenyon" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.