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Kenan

“Hebrew 'possession' or 'smith' (patriarch); also Turkish for Canaan” — Hebrew (biblical) / Turkish-Arabic (region of Canaan) origin

Boy's name · #1145 in the US (2025) · 2020s

Kenan has appeared in US records since 1947 — best rank #966 (1997) · 4,645 babies named Kenan all-time · 1 in 9,100 boys born in 2025.

Around the world: #48 in Bosnia (FBiH) (2024).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 12 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Kenans

• Kenan Evren — President of Turkey (1917–2015)
• Kenan Yıldız — Turkish association football player (born 2005)
• Kenan Thompson — American comedian and actor (born 1978)
• Kenan İmirzalıoğlu — Turkish actor and fashion model (born 1974)
• Kenan Karaman — Turkish association football player (born 1994)

In stories & tradition

• Kenan — Qisas Al-Anbiya · Book of Jubilees

What Kenans become

Among 202 notable people named Kenan:

Athletes appear 2.23× more often than among typical names — e.g. Kenan Yıldız, Turkish association football player (born 2005).

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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