Kensi
Girl name · 6 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Kensi: 6 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 3 births in 2011.
The name Kensi has modern American origins, most likely as a creative respelling of the Scottish place name Kincardine or an invented feminine form of Ken (from Kenneth, meaning 'handsome' or 'born of fire'). It gained contemporary visibility primarily through the character Kensi Blye, a smart, determined NCIS Special Agent played by Daniela Ruah on the long-running American television series *NCIS: Los Angeles* (2009–2023). Unlike many Scottish place-derived names, Kensi has no direct connection to a specific geographical location or historical figure. However, it shares its phonetic core with the Scottish surname Mackensie (a variant of Mackenzie), meaning 'son of Coinneach'—linking it to the same root as Kenneth. This gives Kensi a fresh, melodic feel while tapping into the heritage of Scottish clan names. Its rarity in Scotland before 2000 makes it a modern, media-inspired choice for parents seeking something distinctive yet familiar-sounding.
Girl 2 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 20113 babies
- Latest (2012)
- #8153 babies
- Total births
- 6since 2011
- 5-year trend
- ≈ stablevs prior 5y