Meaning: Healthy or strong in one Japanese spelling
The story
Japanese Ken can be written 健, associated with health and strength. English Ken is independently a short form of Kenneth. Other Japanese kanji can produce the same reading with a different meaning.
Also means
What Ken means in its other languages.
- Englishshort form of Kenneth
Nicknames
- Kenny
Spellings & variants
Popularity
Rare in US records; use elsewhere may differ.
Style
Origins
Ken comes from Japanese and English. It’s a bridge name, with roots in more than one culture.
More like Ken
More Japanese namesToma
Romanian form of Thomas; Japanese meaning depends on spelling
Kim
Gold in Vietnamese; European short forms have different roots
Wei
Greatness or power with the cited Chinese characters
Jie
Outstanding; heroic with the cited Chinese characters
Wade
English surname: ford, or a name related to going
Hale
Nook; retreat, in the English surname
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