• Kenneth

    Pronunciation

    • IPA: /ˈkÉ›.nəθ/

    Origin

    Anglicized form of two Gaelic names, Cinaed "born of fire", name of Scottish kings, and the saint's name Cainnech "handsome" , as in the surname MacKenzie.

    Full definition of Kenneth

    Proper noun

    Kenneth

    (plural Kenneths)
    1. , originally used in Scotland, popular in all English-speaking countries in the 20th century.
      • 1825 Sir Walter Scott: The Talisman. Chapter III:Know, however, that among the soldiers of the Cross I am called Kenneth - Kenneth of the Couching Leopard; at home I have other titles, but they would sound harsh in an Eastern ear.
      • 1998 Barbara Vine ( Ruth Rendell ): The Chimney Sweeper's Boy. ISBN 0670879274 page 166:"The other one , his name was Kenneth, was born in February nineteen twenty-one.""All these Kens," she said."As you say. It must have been the sexy name. These days Kens are all Chinese cooks. - - -

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