Kenna as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Kenna

What is the meaning of the name Kenna ?

The baby name Kenna is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈkɛnə/ (KEN-ə).

Kenna is Gaelic, Scottish in Origin.

Kenna is a feminine given name rooted in the Gaelic traditions of Scotland and Ireland. It arises either as the female counterpart to Kenneth - ultimately from Coinneach/Choinneach, meaning “handsome” or “fair” - or as a streamlined form of the surname McKenna, from Mac Cionaodha (“son of Cionaodh”), where Cionaodh is often interpreted as “born of fire.” These dual etymologies allow Kenna to carry the senses “fair one” and “fire-born,” both long-standing in Celtic naming.

Documented in Anglophone records since the late 19th century, Kenna saw quiet use through the 20th century and has grown in visibility alongside the popularity of McKenna and other sleek, two-syllable names. Spelling variants include Kennah and Kena; related forms and elaborations include McKenna/Mackenna and the rare Scots feminine Kennina. Masculine cognates are Kenneth, Coinneach, and Cináed. Contemporary nicknames range from Ken and Kenny to the stylish Kenni.