Name meaning & stats
Ken
Ken means “handsome” (Scottish Gaelic origin). 30,849 US babies since 1940, peak 1960. Notable Kens are 1.8× over-represented as American football players.
What it means
“handsome”
Scottish GaelicPet form of Kenneth
In US birth records
Peak year: 1960
30,849 US babies were named Ken between 1940 and 2025.
Where Kens end up
Not enough notable Kens yet, so this uses the spelling family: Ken, Keenan, Kenyon.
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| NFL-style footballer | 1.8× | High · 129 people |
| Politician | 1.5× | High · 126 people |
| Actor | 0.9× | High · 62 people |
| Baseball player | 1.7× | High · 60 people |
Among notable men who are American football players, the Ken family show up 1.8× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Ken has a surprise career: 1.6×
Spelling family
The most common spelling: 44% of the family
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1960)