Kenneth Explained

Kenneth
Gender:	Male
Meaning:	Handsome, Fire-born
Language:	English
Related Names:	Cainnech/Coinneach, Cináed

Kenneth is a given name of Gaelic origin. The name is an Anglicised form of two entirely different Gaelic personal names: Cainnech and Cináed. The modern Gaelic form of Cainnech is Coinneach; the name was derived from a byname meaning "handsome", "comely". A short form of Kenneth is Ken.

Etymology

The second part of the name Cinaed is derived either from the Celtic *aidhu, meaning "fire", or else Brittonic jʉ:ð meaning "lord".^[1]

People

(see also Ken (name) and Kenny)

Fictional characters

• Kenneth Widmerpool, character in Anthony Powell's novel sequence A Dance to the Music of Time

Places

In the United States:

• Kenneth, Minnesota
• Kenneth City, Florida

In Scotland:

• Inch Kenneth, an island off the west coast of the Isle of Mull

Other

• "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?", a song by R.E.M.
• Hurricane Kenneth
• Cyclone Kenneth

Notes and References

1. Web site: Rhys . Guto . Approaching the Pictish language: historiography, early evidence and the question of Pritenic . University of Glasgow .