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Chenai

Girl name · 12 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Chenai: 12 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 8 births in 2006.

Chenai, a name of Shona origin from Zimbabwe, means "to do good" or "to be generous," carrying a gentle, aspirational quality. Its most prominent bearer is Chenai Gwezera, a Zimbabwean poet and writer known for her powerful work on identity and diaspora. While no major place bears the name, the similar "Chenai" in Hebrew relates to "grace," offering a cross-cultural connection. A notable variant is "Chene," which appears in Scottish records as a rare given name, though "Chenai" itself remains uncommon in Scotland—making it a distinctive choice that blends African heritage with a lyrical sound that travels well.

Girl 2 of 52 years

Peak year
20068 babies
Latest (2007)
#6334 babies
Total births
12since 2006
5-year trend
≈ stablevs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2006 · 8
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).