kenny

Kenny is a masculine given name, commonly a diminutive of Kenneth, and it is also used as a surname. The given name Kenneth originates from Scottish Gaelic forms such as Coinneach or Cináed, with meanings that have been interpreted as “handsome” or “born of fire.” Kenny developed as a familiar form in English-speaking contexts and is often used independently.

Notable people named Kenny include the American country singer Kenny Rogers; the American musician Kenny Loggins; the American jazz saxophonist Kenny G (Kenneth Gorelick); the American country singer Kenny Chesney; and the Scottish former footballer and manager Kenny Dalglish. Other public figures with the name include Kenny Mayne, an American television host, and Kenny Smith, an American basketball player and broadcaster.

In popular culture, Kenny McCormick is a principal character in the animated series South Park. He is known for wearing an orange parka and for the recurring gag surrounding his muffled voice and deaths in early episodes, before the character’s fate became less fatal.

Kenny functions as both a personal name and a surname in various cultures, and it appears in different languages and regions as a familiar form of Kenneth or as an independent given name. See also Ken, Kennedy, and Kenneth for related forms.