The story behind Kenna
* As a Scottish surname, shortened from McKenna. * As a Manx and Irish surname, from Ó Cionaodha /Ó Cionaoith (“descendant of Cionaodh”), a name usually Anglicized as Kenneth.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈkɛnə/
Popularity
Kenna ranked #759 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Kenna
Fiona
From Irish fionn (“fair, white”). In use before 1713. Popularized by James Macpherson (see 1765 quotation), and perhaps by the 19th-century Scottish writer William Sharp, who…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Lorna
Coined by English novelist R. D. Blackmore in 1869 for his novel Lorna Doone, possibly from the Scottish place name Lorn(e) in Argyll.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Maura
Either from Irish Máire and Scottish Gaelic Màiri, or from Italian Maura. When borrowed from Irish, a doublet of Moira.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Sheena
Anglicization of Scottish Gaelic Sìne and Síne, ultimately from Latin Joanna, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννα (Iōánna), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָה (Yôḥānāh, literally “God is gracious”), the…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Shona
Scottish Anglicized form of Seonag ( =Joan) and an American variant of Shauna.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Sorcha
Borrowed from Irish and Scottish Gaelic Sorcha (literally “light, radiant”). From sorcha (“bright, clear, conspicuous”), from Old Irish sorchae (“bright, luminous”). From…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Kenna
Boyd
From Scottish Gaelic, either buidhe (“blond, yellow, fair”), or a habitational surname from the Isle of Bute in Scotland.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends D
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Cameron
From Scottish Gaelic Camshròn, from cam (“crooked, bent”) + sròn (“nose”). Compare Campbell, from Scottish Gaelic cam (“crooked”) + beul (“mouth”).
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Corrie
From Scottish Gaelic coire (“cauldron, boiler; corrie”), which denotes a bowl-shaped geographical feature similar to a cirque.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Kenna
Alaster
A male given name from Scottish Gaelic, variant of Alistair.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Angus
Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Aonghas, perhaps literally "one choice".
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Blair
From Scottish Gaelic blàr (“field, plain”).
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends R
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length