Kendrick
Kendrick Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
/ˈkɛn.dɹɪk/
Meaning of Kendrick: Kendrick derives from the Old English personal name Cyneric, composed of cyne (royal) and ric (power or ruler), yielding the overall meaning "royal power" or "royal ruler." The name also has a parallel Welsh origin from Cynwrig, combining cyn (chief) and gwr (man, hero).
In Wales, the name Cynwrig was borne by several medieval figures, including Cynwrig ap Rhys, a 12th-century Welsh lord. The anglicized form Kendrick crossed into English records through the Welsh Marches, the border territories where Welsh and English naming traditions intersected during the medieval period.
As an English surname, Kendrick appears in records from the 13th century onward, concentrated in Wales and the English West Midlands. The transfer from surname to given name followed patterns common across English-speaking countries during the 19th and 20th centuries.
What Does Kendrick Mean? Origin & Etymology
According to SSA records, Kendrick ranked #478 for boys in the US as of 2024, with 641 births recorded. The name carries strong African-American cultural presence, boosted by rapper Kendrick Lamar's prominence since the early 2010s.
Kendrick Lamar's 2024 Grammy wins and cultural visibility have measurably sustained the name's SSA ranking, illustrating how individual public figures can directly influence naming trends across a decade of SSA records.
How Popular Is Kendrick?
Numerology & Symbolism of Kendrick
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Kendrick – Similar Names & Alternatives
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Frequently Asked Questions about Kendrick
What does the name Kendrick mean?
The name Kendrick derives from Old English roots, reflecting the Anglo-Saxon naming tradition that predates the Norman Conquest. Names of this origin typically referenced personal qualities, natural features, or family lineage meaningful to early English-speaking communities.
How popular is the name Kendrick in the United States?
According to SSA records, Kendrick ranked #478 for boy names in the United States, with 641 births recorded in the most recent annual count. The name hit its highest SSA rank in 2024. It has held a consistent place in US naming statistics across multiple decades.
Where does the name Kendrick come from?
The name Kendrick comes from English. It entered English use through the linguistic and cultural channels typical of English-origin names—whether through religious texts, migration, or the prestige associated with classical learning. Today it is recognized as a boy’s name across the English-speaking world.