Kenneth vs Derek

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Kenneth

Boy #284 Most Popular 3 Syllables

"handsome; fair one"

Origin: Scottish Gaelic (Coinneach)

Scottish Irish English American

✓ All Clear

Boy #258 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"ruler of the people"

Origin: Germanic

English American Dutch German

✓ All Clear

Kenneth Rank #284

Derek Rank #258

Derek is more popular, ranked #258 vs #284 for Kenneth.

Is Kenneth or Derek more popular?

Derek is more popular, ranked #258 compared to Kenneth at #284 in the United States.

What do Kenneth and Derek mean?

Kenneth means "handsome; fair one" (Scottish Gaelic (Coinneach) origin). Derek means "ruler of the people" (Germanic origin).

Are Kenneth and Derek boy or girl names?

Kenneth is primarily a boy name. Derek is primarily a boy name.