# Kenny

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny
> Source revision: 1356573786
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{other uses}}
{{Wiktionary}}
'''Kenny''' is a [surname](/source/surname), a [given name](/source/given_name), and a diminutive of several different given names.

In [Ireland](/source/Ireland), the surname is an [Anglicisation](/source/Anglicisation) of the [Irish](/source/Irish_language) '''''Ó Cionnaith''''', also spelt '''''Ó Cionnaoith''''' and '''''Ó Cionaodha''''', meaning "descendant of Cionnaith". It was once popular in the 16th-century in [Leinster](/source/Leinster), [Munster](/source/Munster), parts of [Connacht](/source/Connacht) and in [County Tyrone](/source/County_Tyrone) in [Ulster](/source/Ulster), and was Anglicised as O'Kenna, O'Kenny, O'Kinney, Kenna, Kenney, Kenny, and Kinney amongst other variations.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.libraryireland.com/names/oc/o-cionaodha.php |title=Library Ireland|access-date=6 May 2020}}</ref>

One bearer of the name was [Cainnech of Aghaboe](/source/Cainnech_of_Aghaboe), better known in English as Saint Canice - a sixth-century Irish priest and missionary from near [Dungiven](/source/Dungiven), after whom the city and county of [Kilkenny](/source/Kilkenny) is also named. The Irish form ''Cill Chainnigh'' means "Church of Canice".

It is thought that the ''Ó Cionnaith'' sept was part of the [Uí Maine](/source/U%C3%AD_Maine) kingdom, based in [Connacht](/source/Connacht). Within this area, the name is associated traditionally with counties [Galway](/source/Galway) and [Roscommon](/source/Roscommon).

Kenny is ranked at number 76 in the list of the most common surnames in Ireland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goireland.com/genealogy/family.htm?FamilyId=203|title=GulliverIreland.com|work=goireland.com}}</ref> Other spellings include O'Kenny, Kenney, Kennie, Kinnie and Kinny.

The given name, Kenny, is most often used as a short form of the name [Kenneth](/source/Kenneth) and a diminutive form of [Ken](/source/Ken_(name)).
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==Given name==
*[Cainnech of Aghaboe](/source/Cainnech_of_Aghaboe) (515/516–600), also known as Saint Kenny, Irish saint, abbot, monastic founder, priest and missionary
*[Kenny Adeleke](/source/Kenny_Adeleke) (born 1983), Nigerian basketball player
*[Kenny Anderson (basketball)](/source/Kenny_Anderson_(basketball)) (born 1970), retired basketball player
*[Kenny Athiu](/source/Kenny_Athiu), association footballer
*[Kenny Baker (English actor)](/source/Kenny_Baker_(English_actor)) (1934–2016), English actor, best known to portray [R2-D2](/source/R2-D2) in the [Star Wars](/source/Star_Wars) franchise.
*[Kenny Ball](/source/Kenny_Ball) (1930–2013), English jazz musician
*[Kenny Bee](/source/Kenny_Bee) (born 1953), Hong Kong singer, musician and actor
*[Kenny Bell](/source/Kenny_Bell) (born 1992), American football player
*[Kenny Bernstein](/source/Kenny_Bernstein) (born 1944), NHRA driver
*[Kenny Black](/source/Kenny_Black) (born 1963), Scottish footballer
*[Kenny Booker](/source/Kenny_Booker), American basketball player
*[Kenny Bräck](/source/Kenny_Br%C3%A4ck) (born 1966), former Swedish IndyCar driver
*[Kenny Chesney](/source/Kenny_Chesney) (born 1968), American country music singer, songwriter and record producer
*[Kenny Chiu](/source/Kenny_Chiu) (born 1965), Canadian politician
*[Kenny Clarke](/source/Kenny_Clarke) (1914–1985), American jazz drummer and bandleader
*[Kenny Dalglish](/source/Kenny_Dalglish), Scottish soccer player and manager
*[Kenny Delmar](/source/Kenny_Delmar) (1910–1984), American actor and voice artist
*[Kenny Dillingham](/source/Kenny_Dillingham) (born 1990), American football coach
*[Kenny Dykstra](/source/Kenny_Dykstra), American professional wrestler
*[Kenny Dyson](/source/Kenny_Dyson) (born 2001), American football player
*[Kenny Easley](/source/Kenny_Easley), American football player
*[Kenny Easterday](/source/Kenny_Easterday) (1973–2016), American man with sacral agenesis, known as "Man with half a body"
*[Kenny Edwards (rugby league)](/source/Kenny_Edwards_(rugby_league)) (born 1989), New Zealand Rugby League player
*[Kenny Everett](/source/Kenny_Everett) (1944–1995), English disc-jockey and comedian
*[Kenny Fields](/source/Kenny_Fields) (born 1962), American basketball player
*[Kenny Fletcher Jr.](/source/Kenny_Fletcher_Jr.) (born 2003), American football player
*[Kenny Golladay](/source/Kenny_Golladay) (born 1993), American football player
*[Kenny G](/source/Kenny_G) (born 1956), American saxophonist 
*[Kenny Hall (musician)](/source/Kenny_Hall_(musician)) (1923–2013), American musician and teacher
*[Kenny Håkansson](/source/Kenny_H%C3%A5kansson), Swedish musician
*[Kenny Heitz](/source/Kenny_Heitz) (1947–2012), American basketball player
*[Kenny Hotz](/source/Kenny_Hotz), Canadian filmmaker and star of ''Kenny vs. Spenny''
*[Kenny Hughes](/source/Kenny_Hughes), actor, dancer, director and writer
*[Kenny Irwin Jr.](/source/Kenny_Irwin_Jr.), former NASCAR driver
*[Kenny Jackett](/source/Kenny_Jackett), English football player and manager
*[Kenny W. James](/source/Kenny_W._James), American voice actor
*[Kenny Kadji](/source/Kenny_Kadji) (born 1988), Cameroonian basketball player in the [Israeli Basketball Premier League](/source/Israeli_Basketball_Premier_League)
*[Kenny Kima Beyissa](/source/Kenny_Kima_Beyissa) (born 2003), Central African footballer
*[Kenny Koplove](/source/Kenny_Koplove), American baseball player
*[Kenny Lawler](/source/Kenny_Lawler) (born 1994), American football player
*[Kenny Layne](/source/Kenny_Layne) (born 1981), American professional wrestler known also by ring-name Kenny King
*[Kenny Lofton](/source/Kenny_Lofton), baseball outfielder
*[Kenny Loggins](/source/Kenny_Loggins) (born 1948), American singer and songwriter
*[Kenny Lowe](/source/Kenny_Lowe), English football manager
*[Kenny Mayne](/source/Kenny_Mayne), American sports journalist
*[Kenny McIntosh](/source/Kenny_McIntosh) (born 2000), American football player
*[Kenny Middlemiss](/source/Kenny_Middlemiss) (born 1964), Scottish badminton player
*[Kenny Miller](/source/Kenny_Miller), Scottish footballer
*[Kenny Minchey](/source/Kenny_Minchey) (born 2005), American football player
*[Kenny Moore](/source/Kenny_Moore_(runner)), American athlete
*[Kenny Moore II](/source/Kenny_Moore_II), American football player
*[Kenny O'Dell](/source/Kenny_O'Dell) (1944–2018), American country music singer and songwriter
*[Kenny Okoro](/source/Kenny_Okoro), American football player
*[Kenny Omega](/source/Kenny_Omega) (born 1982), ring name of Canadian-born professional wrestler Tyson Smith
*[Kenny Ortega](/source/Kenny_Ortega) (born 1950), film director and producer
*[Kenny Perry](/source/Kenny_Perry), American professional golfer
*[Kenny Pickett](/source/Kenny_Pickett) (born 1998), American football player
*[Kenny Price](/source/Kenny_Price) (1931–1987), American country music singer-songwriter
*[Kenny Roberts](/source/Kenny_Roberts), former motorcycle racer
*[Kenny Robinson](/source/Ken_Robinson_(disambiguation)), multiple people
*[Kenny Rogers](/source/Kenny_Rogers) (1938–2020), American country music singer-songwriter, guitarist and record producer
*[Kenny Rogers (baseball)](/source/Kenny_Rogers_(baseball)) (born 1964), American baseball player
*[Kenny Rosenberg](/source/Kenny_Rosenberg) (born 1995), American baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels 
*[Kenny Saief](/source/Kenny_Saief) (born 1993), American-Israeli (of [Druze](/source/Druze) family) professional soccer player
*[Kenny Sebastian](/source/Kenny_Sebastian) (born 1990), Indian comedian
*[Kenny Stucker](/source/Kenny_Stucker) (born 1970), American football player
*[Kenny Taylor (basketball)](/source/Kenny_Taylor_(basketball)), (born 1992) basketball player for the Akita Northern Happinets of Japan
*[Kenny Tran](/source/Kenny_Tran), a professional Vietnamese American poker player
*[Kenny Vaccaro](/source/Kenny_Vaccaro) (born 1991), American football player
*[Kenny Wallace](/source/Kenny_Wallace) (born 1974), American NASCAR driver
*[Kenny Washington (basketball)](/source/Kenny_Washington_(basketball)), American basketball player and coach
*[Kenny Willekes](/source/Kenny_Willekes) (born 1997), American football player
*[Kenny Wooten](/source/Kenny_Wooten) (born 1998), American basketball player
*[Kenny Yeboah](/source/Kenny_Yeboah) (born 1998), American football player
*[Kenny Young (American football)](/source/Kenny_Young_(American_football)) (born 1994), American football player

==Surname==
* [Anthony Kenny](/source/Anthony_Kenny) (born 1931), English philosopher
* [Arturo Kenny](/source/Arturo_Kenny) (born 1888), Argentine polo player
* [Bernard Kenny](/source/Bernard_Kenny) (born 1946), American politician
* [Bill Kenny (Australian footballer)](/source/Bill_Kenny_(Australian_footballer)) (1897–1978), Australian rules footballer
* [Bill Kenny (English footballer)](/source/Bill_Kenny_(English_footballer)), played at least one season in the American Soccer League
* [Bill Kenny (singer)](/source/Bill_Kenny_(singer)) (1914–1978), African-American singer with The Ink Spots
* [Brett Kenny](/source/Brett_Kenny), Australian rugby league footballer
* [Brian Kenny (disambiguation)](/source/Brian_Kenny_(disambiguation))
* [Carlos Kenny](/source/Carlos_Kenny) (born 1950), Argentine field hockey player
* [Charles Kenny](/source/Charles_Kenny) (1898–1992), American composer and lyricist
* [Charles Kenny (cricketer)](/source/Charles_Kenny_(cricketer)) (1929–1996), English cricketer
* [Cindy Kenny-Gilday](/source/Cindy_Kenny-Gilday) (born 1954), Sahtu environmentalist and activist for Indigenous rights in Canada
* [Clare Kenny](/source/Clare_Kenny) (born 1976), British-Swiss artist 
* [David Kenny (disambiguation)](/source/David_Kenny_(disambiguation))
* [Enda Kenny](/source/Enda_Kenny) (born 1951), Irish politician, leader of Fine Gael and Taoiseach
* [Enda Kenny (singer)](/source/Enda_Kenny_(singer)), Irish-born Australian folksinger and songwriter
* [Elizabeth Kenny](/source/Elizabeth_Kenny) (1880–1952), unaccredited Australian nurse whose controversial treatment of polio victims became the foundation of physical therapy
* [Eoghan Kenny](/source/Eoghan_Kenny), Irish politician
* [Gerard Kenny](/source/Gerard_Kenny), British-based American composer, pianist and singer
* [Henry Kenny](/source/Henry_Kenny) (1913–1975), Irish politician and Gaelic footballer
* [Henry Kenny (Australian politician)](/source/Henry_Kenny_(Australian_politician)) (1853–1899)
* [Henry Edward Kenny](/source/Henry_Edward_Kenny) (1888–1979), British soldier awarded the Victoria Cross
* [J. E. Kenny](/source/J._E._Kenny), Irish politician
* [James C. Kenny](/source/James_C._Kenny), former US ambassador to Ireland 
* [Jason Kenny](/source/Jason_Kenny) (born 1988), English cyclist
* [Jon Kenny](/source/Jon_Kenny), Irish comedian and actor
* [Julie Kenny](/source/Julie_Kenny) (1957–2025), English businesswoman
* [Laura Kenny](/source/Laura_Kenny) (born 1992), British track and road cyclist
* [Lawrence Kenny](/source/Lawrence_Kenny), Catholic priest and exorcist
* [Marc Kenny](/source/Marc_Kenny), former Irish footballer
* [Matthew Joseph Kenny](/source/Matthew_Joseph_Kenny), Irish politician from Clare
* [Maurice Kenny](/source/Maurice_Kenny) (1929–2016), Mohawk poet
* [Mecury Kenny](/source/Mecury_Kenny) (born 1979), Zimbabwean cricketer
* [Michael Kenny (disambiguation)](/source/Michael_Kenny_(disambiguation)), includes some Michaels better known as Mick or Mike
* [Mick Kenny (Kilkenny hurler)](/source/Mick_Kenny_(Kilkenny_hurler)) (1925–2003)
* [Mike Kenny (writer)](/source/Mike_Kenny_(writer)), British playwright
* [Nick Kenny (poet)](/source/Nick_Kenny_(poet)) (1895–1975), US columnist, lyricist and poet
* [Nick Kenny (rugby league)](/source/Nick_Kenny_(rugby_league)), Australian rugby league player
* [Paddy Kenny](/source/Paddy_Kenny), British-born Irish footballer
* [Paddy Kenny (hurler)](/source/Paddy_Kenny_(hurler)), Irish hurler
* [Pat Kenny](/source/Pat_Kenny) (born 1948), Irish broadcaster
* [Seán Kenny (politician)](/source/Se%C3%A1n_Kenny_(politician)) (born 1942), Irish Labour Party politician
* [Sean Kenny (theatre designer)](/source/Sean_Kenny_(theatre_designer)), Irish  film, theatre and exhibition designer
* [Seán Kenny (hurler)](/source/Se%C3%A1n_Kenny_(hurler)), Irish hurler
* [Stephen Kenny (footballer)](/source/Stephen_Kenny_(footballer)), Irish football manager
* [Tom Kenny](/source/Tom_Kenny) (born 1962), American voice actor and comedian best known as the voice of [SpongeBob SquarePants](/source/SpongeBob_SquarePants)
* [Tom Kenny (hurler)](/source/Tom_Kenny_(hurler)), Irish hurler
* [William Kenny (disambiguation)](/source/William_Kenny_(disambiguation))

==Fictional characters==
* [Kenny McCormick](/source/Kenny_McCormick), a character from the TV series ''[South Park](/source/South_Park)''
* [Kenny (''Beyblade'')](/source/Kenny_(Beyblade)), in the anime and manga series ''[Beyblade](/source/Beyblade)''
* [Kenny (''Tomorrow People'')](/source/Kenny_(Tomorrow_People)), in the 1970s science fiction series ''The Tomorrow People''
* Kenny Ackerman, a character from ''[Attack on Titan](/source/Attack_on_Titan)''
* [Kenny Chang](/source/List_of_Corner_Shop_Show_characters), in the British web series ''Corner Shop Show''.
* [Kenny Powers (character)](/source/Kenny_Powers_(character)), the protagonist of the HBO series ''Eastbound and Down''
* Kenny Rossmore, a character in the 2013 American crime comedy movie ''[We're the Millers](/source/We're_the_Millers)''
* [Kenny Smyth](/source/Kenny_Smyth), a corporate bathroom plumber in the 2006 film ''Kenny''
* [Kenny Wangler](/source/Kenny_Wangler), an African-American drug addict in the HBO drama ''Oz''
* Kenny, in the movie ''[Let Me In](/source/Let_Me_In_(film))''
* Kenny, in the episodic video game series ''[The Walking Dead: Season One](/source/The_Walking_Dead%3A_Season_One)''
* Kenny the Shark, from ''[Kenny the Shark](/source/Kenny_the_Shark)''
* [Kenny](/source/List_of_Stitch!_characters) (Kouji), from ''[Stitch!](/source/Stitch!)''
* Kenny, one of the Galtian aliens in the video game ''[High on Life](/source/High_on_Life_(video_game))''

==See also==
* [Ken (given name)](/source/Ken_(given_name))
* [Kenney (disambiguation)](/source/Kenney_(disambiguation))
* [Kinney (disambiguation)](/source/Kinney_(disambiguation))
* [List of Irish-language given names](/source/List_of_Irish-language_given_names)

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* Genealogies of Kenny and Lysaght by Cecil Stacpoole Kenny 1915, NLI, Dublin, Ireland

{{given name|type=both}}

Category:English masculine given names
Category:English-language surnames
Category:Masculine given names
Category:Hypocorisms
Category:Surnames of Irish origin
Category:Anglicised Irish-language surnames

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kenny](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.