Meaning and history
Ken is both an English short form of Kenneth and a Japanese masculine name whose meaning depends on the kanji, with possible senses including “healthy,” “strong,” “wise,” or “modest.” Its compact form has made it familiar internationally. Notable bearers include Japanese actor Ken Watanabe and British filmmaker Ken Loach.
20062006: 135 births, rank #1,239
2007: 120 births, rank #1,376
2008: 108 births, rank #1,504
2009: 104 births, rank #1,562
2010: 68 births, rank #2,010
20112011: 88 births, rank #1,687
2012: 107 births, rank #1,498
2013: 75 births, rank #1,878
2014: 85 births, rank #1,766
2015: 87 births, rank #1,753
20162016: 90 births, rank #1,724
2017: 63 births, rank #2,154
2018: 62 births, rank #2,210
2019: 51 births, rank #2,556
2020: 56 births, rank #2,366
20212021: 52 births, rank #2,523
2022: 50 births, rank #2,648
2023: 37 births, rank #3,228
2024: 36 births, rank #3,272
20252025: 36 births, rank #3,240
Ken moved from #942 to #992 for boys between 1991 and 1995. Its highest annual birth count came in 1960, with 1,775 births.