Kenneth in Irish: Canice
The Irish form of Kenneth is Canice, a boy's name meaning “pleasant person.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Irish form
- Canice
- Meaning
- Pleasant person
- Gender
- Boy
- Also spelled
- Coinneach
How do you say Kenneth in Irish?
Kenneth in Irish is Canice, pronounced CAN-iss. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first. It can also be said KO-in-ock. Other spellings: Coinneach.
What does Canice mean?
Canice means “pleasant person.” Kenneth is one of the English forms of the name.
Read more about Canice: its meaning, origin and stories
How popular is Kenneth in Ireland?
Kenneth wasn't in the 2025 tables, which list names given to at least three babies. It was last recorded in 2024, when 3 baby boys got the name. It was most popular in 1974, when 346 baby boys were named Kenneth, No. 26 that year. The records go back to 1964, when 150 baby boys were given the name.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | No. 785 |
| 2022 | 5 | No. 572 |
| 2021 | 3 | No. 755 |
| 2020 | 4 | No. 637 |
| 2019 | 4 | No. 646 |
| 2018 | 10 | No. 369 |
| 2017 | 6 | No. 495 |
| 2016 | 7 | No. 448 |
| 2015 | 4 | No. 615 |
| 2014 | 3 | No. 715 |
| 2013 | 4 | No. 605 |
| 2012 | 3 | No. 718 |
| 2011 | 10 | No. 387 |
| 2010 | 8 | No. 422 |
| 2009 | 15 | No. 292 |
| 2008 | 13 | No. 317 |
| 2007 | 12 | No. 299 |
| 2006 | 9 | No. 314 |
| 2005 | 20 | No. 191 |
| 2004 | 10 | No. 263 |
| 2003 | 17 | No. 184 |
| 2002 | 19 | No. 180 |
| 2001 | 13 | No. 201 |
| 2000 | 17 | No. 173 |
| 1999 | 18 | No. 167 |
| 1998 | 27 | No. 130 |
| 1997 | 32 | No. 133 |
| 1996 | 43 | No. 115 |
| 1995 | 47 | No. 108 |
| 1994 | 38 | No. 119 |
| 1993 | 44 | No. 115 |
| 1992 | 78 | No. 80 |
| 1991 | 79 | No. 81 |
| 1990 | 93 | No. 75 |
| 1989 | 95 | No. 70 |
| 1988 | 117 | No. 63 |
| 1987 | 123 | No. 60 |
| 1986 | 117 | No. 65 |
| 1985 | 159 | No. 51 |
| 1984 | 184 | No. 50 |
| 1983 | 178 | No. 53 |
| 1982 | 216 | No. 48 |
| 1981 | 255 | No. 44 |
| 1980 | 290 | No. 41 |
| 1979 | 236 | No. 46 |
| 1978 | 249 | No. 38 |
| 1977 | 260 | No. 38 |
| 1976 | 303 | No. 31 |
| 1975 | 299 | No. 30 |
| 1974 | 346 | No. 26 |
| 1973 | 305 | No. 31 |
| 1972 | 304 | No. 26 |
| 1971 | 277 | No. 31 |
| 1970 | 254 | No. 33 |
| 1969 | 269 | No. 28 |
| 1968 | 254 | No. 30 |
| 1967 | 225 | No. 34 |
| 1966 | 178 | No. 39 |
| 1965 | 182 | No. 40 |
| 1964 | 150 | No. 41 |
Canice in Ogham
Ogham is the oldest way of writing Irish. It was carved along the edges of standing stones, mostly between the 4th and 6th centuries, and read from the bottom up. In later tradition each letter was named after a tree or plant. Here’s Canice, letter by letter.
- CColl, hazel
- AAilm, pine
- NNion, ash
- IIodhadh, yew
- CColl, hazel
- EEadhadh, aspen
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Kenneth
Questions about Kenneth
- What is Kenneth in Irish?
- The Irish form of Kenneth is Canice, pronounced CAN-iss. Canice means “pleasant person.”
- How do you pronounce Canice?
- Canice is pronounced CAN-iss. Two syllables, stress on the first.
- Is Kenneth a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Kenneth is a boy's name.