Kendi as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Kendi

What is the meaning of the name Kendi ?

The baby name Kendi is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈkɛn.di/ (KEN-dee).

Kendi is in Origin.

Kendi is an East African given name rooted in Kimeru (the Meru language of Kenya), where it means “the loved one” or “beloved.” It is traditionally bestowed to celebrate a cherished child and is especially common for girls, though sometimes used unisex in Kenya.

Usage beyond Africa is recent and rare but rising; the American writer Ibram X. Kendi has helped familiarize the spelling, though in his case it is a surname. Variants and related forms include Kendy (an anglicized spelling) and N’Kendi/Nkendi (with a Bantu prefix). Some English speakers also treat Kendi as a modern alternative to Kendra or Kennedy. In Turkish, kendi means “self,” a coincidental overlap not related to the African origin. With its concise rhythm and affectionate sense, Kendi feels both rooted and contemporary.