Boy · #12,153 in 2026

Kentucky

Kentucky, officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the northeast, Virginia to the east, Tennessee to the south, and Missouri to the west. Its northern border is defined by the Ohio River. Its capital is Frankfort and its most populous city is Louisville.

Current Rank
#12,153
Peak Rank
#12,153 (2018)
Total Babies
5
5-Yr Trend
Stable
2018
First Year
2018
Last Year
2018
Peak Year
#12153
Peak Rank
5
Total Count
1
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Kentucky

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Kentucky, officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the northeast, Virginia to the east, Tennessee to the south, and Missouri to the west. Its northern border is defined by the Ohio River. Its capital is Frankfort and its most populous city is Louisville.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
Prior to 1769, Botetourt County and successor counties in the Colony of Virginia , whose geographical extent was south of the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers beyond the Appalachian Mountains , became known to European Americans as Kentucky (or Kentucke) country . It was named for the Kentucky River , a tributary of the Ohio. The precise etymology of the name is uncertain. One theory sees the word based on an Iroquoian name meaning "(on) the meadow" or "(on) the prairie" ( compare</span>"}]],"parts":[{"template":{"target":{"wt":"cf.","href":"./Template:Cf."},"params":{},"i":0}}]}' id="mwpw">cf. Mohaw
Origin & history
Main article: History of Kentucky

The Story of Kentucky

Kentucky first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2018, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2018, when 5 Kentuckys were born — ranking #12,153 that year. As of 2026, Kentucky ranks #12,153 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 5 Kentuckys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Kentucky

Phonetically similar names — useful when Kentucky is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Kentuck
  • Contect
  • Conduct
  • Contigo
  • Contex
  • Condict
  • Cantic
  • Contig
  • Country
  • Contact
  • Contacts
  • Canuck

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kentucky

What does the name Kentucky mean?
Kentucky, officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the northeast, Virginia to the east, Tennessee to the south, and Missouri to the west. Its northern border is defined by the Ohio River. Its capital is Frankfort and its most populous city is Louisville.
How popular is Kentucky in 2026?
In 2026, Kentucky ranks #12,153 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Kentucky most popular?
Kentucky reached its peak popularity in 2018, ranking #12,153 that year with 5 babies given the name.
Is Kentucky a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Kentucky is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Kentucky?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Kentucky include Aakif, Abdirizaq, Abdulmannan. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Aakif
Peak #12153
👦
Abdirizaq
Peak #12153
👦
Abdulmannan
Peak #12153
👦
Abniel
Peak #12153
👦
Acton
Peak #12153
👦
Adidev
Peak #12153
👦
Aito
Peak #12153
👦
Akoi
Peak #12153

About the name Kentucky

Kentucky is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2018 and has accumulated 5 births in the dataset. Kentucky's peak popularity came in 2018 when it ranked #12,153. Use the chart and map above to compare Kentucky's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.