Kenneth in Irish: Canice
Kenneth, like Canice, is an English form of the Irish Coinneach (older Cainneach), which Woulfe explains as “fair one”; Kenneth is also used for the unrelated Cináed. Here’s how to say Canice, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated November 2026
- Same name as
- Canice
- Meaning
- Fair one
- Gender
- Boy
How do you say Canice?
Kenneth and Canice are English forms of the same Irish name. Canice is pronounced CAN-iss. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first. It can also be said KO-in-ock.
What does Canice mean?
Canice means “fair one.” Kenneth is another English form of the same Irish 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?
- Kenneth, like Canice, is an English form of the Irish Coinneach (older Cainneach), which Woulfe explains as “fair one”; Kenneth is also used for the unrelated Cináed. Canice is pronounced CAN-iss.
- How do you pronounce Canice?
- Canice is pronounced CAN-iss, with two syllables and the stress on the first. It can also be said KO-in-ock.
- Is Kenneth a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Kenneth is a boy's name.
Sources: popularity from the Central Statistics Office, table VSA50 (CC BY 4.0). Meaning and origin from Woulfe, Irish Names and Surnames (1923), Behind the Name, Wikipedia and en.wiktionary.org. How we research names: our sources. Spotted a mistake? support@babynamesofireland.com