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Kells

Quick answerKells derives from the Irish place name Ceanannus Mór, meaning "head fort" or "chief fort" from the Irish elements *ceann* (head) and *anus* (fort), and is primarily used as a given name referencing the historic monastic site.

Irish · Boy · 1 syllable

K
Rare

Popularity & facts

Relative popularity index, 2010–2025
GenderBoy
US Rank#13,372
TrendNew ★
Peak year2022
Syllables1
OriginIrish
LanguageIrish
CultureIrish/Celtic
ReligionChristianity
Letters5
Numerology5 Chaldean 7
Global rank#13,372

Popularity over time

Popularity index
Hover the line to see any year. 100 = most popular.

Historical popularity from 1880–2025 · US Social Security Administration data

About the name Kells

Kells derives from the Irish place name Ceanannus Mór, meaning "head fort" or "chief fort" from the Irish elements *ceann* (head) and *anus* (fort), and is primarily used as a given name referencing the historic monastic site.

This meaning was compiled with AI assistance and is awaiting community review. Know this name well? Help verify or improve it.

Etymology

Kells derives from the Irish place name Ceanannus Mór, meaning "head fort" or "chief fort" from the Irish elements *ceann* (head) and *anus* (fort), and is primarily used as a given name referencing the historic monastic site. The name is associated with Irish and Celtic cultures, particularly through the famous Book of Kells, a 9th-century illuminated manuscript created at the monastery in County Meath, Ireland, which was a significant center of Christian scholarship.

Kells currently ranks #13,372 in the United States as a boy's name. It reached its peak popularity around 2022.

Themesroyal

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