Kenan

Updated: October 14, 2023 by Stephanie Graham

Kenan is an important name to Jewish, Christian, and Islam families. Some associate it with the Irish as well, as it could be a variation of Keenan. No matter the origin, Kenan is currently a top 3,000 baby name in America.

Meaning and Origin of the name Kenan:

Kenan is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning “possession” or “aquire.”

Kenan is likely a Biblical name from the Old Testament. It was the name for the son of Enosh, of whom Noah was a descendent. He was the great-grandson of the first man, Adam. Some believe that Kenan is a spelling variation of the Irish name Keenan (meaning “ancient”).

Symbolism of the name Kenan:

Kenan means “possession” in Hebrew as it comes from the word that is the same. The man in the Bible with the title was God's possession. In Irish, Kenan means “ancient” as it has the same meaning as Keenan.

Nicknames for the name Kenan:

Finding the right nickname can be a little tricky. You may not know what options there are for Kenan or where to start to find nicknames. That's why we compiled this list of nicknames for the name Kenan. This list has a variety of nickname options for you to choose from.

KK
Kee
Ken
Keen
Kenny
Kennie
Kenni
Nan

Style of the name Kenan:

Classical

Gender of the name Kenan:

Kenan is a wholesome name for boys.

Pronunciation of the name Kenan:

KEE-nen

Number of syllables in the name Kenan:

Two

Emotion evoked from the name Kenan:

Kenan is kind-hearted and strong. It is a formal name with a serious feel.

Alternative spellings for the name Kenan:

Keenan
Keenon
Kenon
Keynan
Kienen
Kienon

Popularity of the name Kenan:

Kenan was only a top 1,000 baby name in America for one year. In 1997, it ranked at number 969. As of 2020, Kenan is a top 3,000 option at number 2,846.