Kenya
Kenya is a given name. It is considered to be an African-American name in the United States. Notable people with the name include:Kenya Barris, American writer Kenya Bell, American singer Kenya Charles, Trinidad and Tobago politician Kenya Hathaway, American singer Kenya Moore, American actress Kenya Mori, Mexican actress Kenya (Robinson), American artist Kenya D. Williamson, American writer
- English
- African American
Meaning & Origin of Kenya
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Kenya is a given name. It is considered to be an African-American name in the United States. Notable people with the name include:Kenya Barris, American writer Kenya Bell, American singer Kenya Charles, Trinidad and Tobago politician Kenya Hathaway, American singer Kenya Moore, American actress Kenya Mori, Mexican actress Kenya (Robinson), American artist Kenya D. Williamson, American writer
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
- African American
The Story of Kenya
As a girl name
Kenya first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1952, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1973, when 894 Kenyas were born — ranking #275 that year. As of 2026, Kenya ranks #1,817 for girls with 111 births, falling sharply (-40%). In total, more than 26K Kenyas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Kenya first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1964, with 13 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1973, when 145 Kenyas were born — ranking #661 that year. As of 2026, Kenya ranks #8,947 for boys with 8 births, with steady use. In total, more than 2K Kenyas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Kenya
Phonetically similar names — useful when Kenya is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kenya
What does the name Kenya mean?
What is the origin of the name Kenya?
How popular is Kenya in 2026?
When was Kenya most popular?
In which U.S. states is Kenya most popular?
Is Kenya a unisex name?
What names go well with Kenya?
About the name Kenya
Kenya is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1952 and has accumulated 26K births in the dataset. Kenya's peak popularity came in 1973 when it ranked #275. Use the chart and map above to compare Kenya's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1973 →
- Names of the 1970s →
- Names starting with "K" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.