How Many People Are Named Ken?

Complete statistics for the name Ken: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Ken
Very Rare
Japanese

Ken means 'handsome' and has origins in Japanese culture. That's about 1 in 13,729 Americans who go by Ken, making it quite rare. With most people over 60, it's clear Ken's popularity peaked in 1960.

~622
Living in US
1 in 532,877
Americans
1960
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Handsome
🌐
Origin
Japanese
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 3
Personality Traits
Confident Determined
3
Life Path Number

Traditionally, life-path number 3 represents creativity and self-expression.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

85,247
Worldwide Bearers
#985
Global Rank
🇳🇿 New Zealand
10,177
🇵🇭 Philippines
8,567
🇲🇾 Malaysia
7,161
🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea
6,895
🇮🇩 Indonesia
4,380
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
3,555
🇨🇳 China
3,344
🇲🇲 Myanmar
2,625
🇸🇩 Sudan
2,578
🇧🇪 Belgium
2,469

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
24,014 (100%)
♀ Female
23 (0%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 63
2,583
Would be under 30 (8%)
6,896
Would be 30–60 (21%)
23,525
Would be over 60 (71%)

All 33,004 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1960

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Declining

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
98
Classic Feel
67
Modern Appeal
33
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Ken Through the Generations

Ken's journey through the generations shows a strong preference among older Americans. Born in 1960, 1,776 babies were named Ken, marking its peak. Today, 24,037 people carry the name, with 71% over 60, indicating a significant skew towards an older demographic. The trend is declining, suggesting fewer Kens will join the ranks in coming years.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

California 6,039
Illinois 1,911
Michigan 1,866
Texas 1,623
New York 1,537
Ohio 1,487
Washington 1,217
Pennsylvania 852
Indiana 798
Wisconsin 681

⭐ Famous People Named Ken

Ken is a masculine given name of Japanese, Scottish Gaelic, or Chinese origin.…

Full list on Wikipedia →

✨ Similar Names to Ken

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Ken's Japanese roots

📄 About the Name Ken

How Many People Have the Name Ken?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 622 people in the United States currently share the name Ken. That works out to roughly 1 in every 532,877 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.

Is Ken a Common or Rare Name?

Ken is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Ken Mean?

Ken means "handsome" and comes from Japanese origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 3.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Ken in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.

When Was Ken Most Popular?

The name Ken reached peak popularity in 1960, with 1,776 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Ken?

Approximately 622 people named Ken live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 622. That works out to roughly 1 in 532,877 Americans.

Is Ken a rare name?

Ken is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 532,877 Americans has this name.

What does the name Ken mean?

Ken means "handsome" and comes from Japanese origins.

Is Ken more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 100% of people named Ken are male and 0% are female.

When was Ken most popular?

Ken peaked in 1960 with 1,776 births that year. Current trend: Declining.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US622
All-Time Births622
1 in X1 in 532,877
RarityVery Rare
GenderMale
Avg Age63
Peak Year1960
World Rank#985
Male %100%
Female %0%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.