Meaning: Its source is Cinaed, an Irish Gaelic name meaning "Fire-born."

Popularity: The name Keneth ranked 1194th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name appears on the 1990 U.S. Census lists, it is used by only a small percentage of the general population.

Narrative: It developed from the convergence of two Irish Gaelic names: Cinaed, meaning ''Fire born'' and Cainnech, meaning ''Good-looking.''

Scots Gaels are descendants of the Irish, though the two peoples have developed distinct cultures. This explains how Kenneth, the descendant of Irish Gaelic names, could become primarily identified with Scotland. (The Scots surname MacKenzie -- ''son of Kenneth'' -- underscores the name's nationality.)