Is Kenai a boy's or girl's name?

Kenai is primarily a boy's name. It is also used as a girl's name, with 68 recorded births.

When was Kenai most popular?

Kenai reached its peak popularity in 2024 with 327 births that year. It is currently ranked #772 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Kenai?

Kenai is currently ranked #772 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 2,013 babies since 1992.

Kenai

A familiar Native American name with steady appeal.

Boy's name| Also girlsNative AmericanRising fast Also a pet name

#772▲ 188in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A city, peninsula, and river in Alaska.

Kenai is a boy's and girl's baby name of Native American origin, from the Dena'ina Athabascan language — the name of the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska, meaning 'flat land' or 'flat area.' Disney's animated film Brother Bear (2003) featured a protagonist named Kenai, bringing the name to mainstream American audiences.

Kenai has a distinctive, nature-rooted quality — connected to the wild Alaskan landscape of bears, salmon rivers, and boreal forests. For parents drawn to Native American place names, nature-inspired names, or the warmth of the Brother Bear story, Kenai is a meaningful and beautiful choice.

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Popularity Over Time

Kenai climbed 1453 spots in the last 20 years — from #2225 to #772.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Kenai
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	1,048	#1082	▲
2010s	689	#2250	▲
2000s	266	#3864	▲
1990s	10	#9987	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(25 years, 1992–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Kenai
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	327	#772	+93 (39.7%)
2023	234	#960	+32 (15.8%)
2022	202	#1081	+61 (43.3%)
2021	141	#1322	-3 (-2.1%)
2020	144	#1274	+22 (18.0%)
2019	122	#1436	+29 (31.2%)
2018	93	#1693	-5 (-5.1%)
2017	98	#1627	+16 (19.5%)
2016	82	#1837	+14 (20.6%)
2015	68	#2079	+7 (11.5%)
2014	61	#2220	+9 (17.3%)
2013	52	#2414	+15 (40.5%)
2012	37	#3083	+2 (5.7%)
2011	35	#3211	-6 (-14.6%)
2010	41	#2896	+4 (10.8%)
2009	37	#3140	-3 (-7.5%)
2008	40	#2980	-2 (-4.8%)
2007	42	#2844	+9 (27.3%)
2006	33	#3276	-9 (-21.4%)
2005	42	#2638	-10 (-19.2%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Kenai as a Girl's Name

While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Kenai has also been given to 68 girls in the U.S. since 2003.

#16432

Current rank

Total births

2003

Peak year

Compare Kenai as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Kenai be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Kenai is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #772. As a girl's name, it ranks #16432.

Kenai has two lives

Kenai, the baby name

#772boys

2,013 babies

Currently viewing

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1992–2024) · Methodology