Kennedy

Traditionally a surname with Irish roots, now widely used as a given name; its precise original sense is commonly explained but varies by source.

Kennedy is a surname-derived given name with Irish roots that has become firmly established as a first name in many English-speaking contexts. Because it entered everyday use through surname tradition, many people treat it primarily as a family-name-turned-first-name rather than choosing it for a single precise literal meaning. Etymology references commonly connect it to the Irish surname Ó Cinnéide, but the older root is glossed in multiple ways across sources, so a conservative summary is that it’s Irish in origin with debated or variable literal interpretation. Pronunciation in English is typically KEN-uh-dee with three syllables and stress on the first; a practical tip is to keep the middle syllable light so it doesn’t become “KEN-uh-dee” with an overemphasis. For a short form, “Ken” is sometimes used in casual settings, though many people use the full three-syllable name day to day.

Etymology: From an Irish surname often given as Ó Cinnéide; the root is commonly glossed in different ways across references, so it’s best treated as surname-derived rather than a single literal meaning.