Kenan vs Ulysses

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Kenan

Boy #1,134 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"possession, acquisition"

Origin: Hebrew

Cultural Roots

Hebrew Irish American Turkish

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,134
Total SSA Count
187
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Ken, Kenn

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
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Ulysses

Boy #1,291 Most Popular 4 Syllables

Meaning

"difficult journey"

Origin: Greek

Cultural Roots

Latin Greek American Italian

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,291
Total SSA Count
152
Syllables
4
Formality
Formal
Nicknames
Uly, Lee

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Ulysses →

Popularity Comparison

Kenan Rank #1,134
Ulysses Rank #1,291

Kenan is more popular, ranked #1134 vs #1291 for Ulysses.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Kenan ___

  • Kenan James
  • Kenan Patrick
  • Kenan Michael
  • Kenan David
  • Kenan Thomas
  • Kenan Reed

Ulysses ___

  • Ulysses Grant
  • Ulysses James
  • Ulysses Rex
  • Ulysses Theodore
  • Ulysses Augustine
  • Ulysses Roman

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Kenan

Ronan Declan Siobhan Nora Finn

If you choose Ulysses

Achilles Augustus Penelope Helena Leonidas

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kenan or Ulysses more popular?

Kenan is more popular, ranked #1134 compared to Ulysses at #1291 in the United States.

What do Kenan and Ulysses mean?

Kenan means "possession, acquisition" (Hebrew origin). Ulysses means "difficult journey" (Greek origin).

Are Kenan and Ulysses boy or girl names?

Kenan is primarily a boy name. Ulysses is primarily a boy name.

More Comparisons

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← Full profile: Kenan ← Full profile: Ulysses Browse all baby names