Kenya is a unisex given name of African origin, specifically from the country Kenya in East Africa. The name Kenya is derived from the word "Kiinyaa," which means "rise" or "hill" in the Maasai language, one of the native languages spoken in Kenya.
The name Kenya gained popularity worldwide following the establishment of Kenya as an independent nation-state on December 12, 1963. As more people became aware of this East African country and its unique culture, the name Kenya began to appear more frequently in baby name lists around the world.
In some cultures, names are believed to have a significant impact on one's life and personality. However, there is no universally accepted meaning or cultural significance associated with the name Kenya beyond its geographical origin and the Maasai language interpretation of "rise" or "hill."
The name Kenya has been used for both boys and girls, although it tends to be more popular for females in many countries. It has appeared in various forms of media, such as in literature, movies, and music, further contributing to its recognition and popularity as a given name.
In summary, the name Kenya is of African origin, derived from the Maasai language word "Kiinyaa." It gained popularity worldwide following Kenya's independence and does not have any specific cultural significance or associated traits beyond its geographical origins.
These statistics show that the name Kenya experienced a significant increase in popularity during the late 1960s and early 1970s, peaking at 145 births in 1973. However, after reaching its peak, the popularity of the name Kenya gradually decreased over time, with only 6 births recorded in 2014. In total, there have been 2133 births with the name Kenya between 1964 and 2019.