When was Ken most popular?

The name Ken reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.

What are the origins of the name Ken Lau?

The name Ken Lau combines two different traditions: the first name Ken has Celtic roots, while the surname Lau originates from Vietnamese.

Ken Lau — 83K & 30K bearers

Ken Lau is a name that combines Celtic origins. The first name Ken is a masculine given name of Celtic origin. Ken is a masculine given name of Japanese and Scottish Gaelic origin. The Japanese given name is common among males. It can have many different meanings depending on the kanji used. Ken is also a masculine given name of Scottish / Scottish Gaelic origin. It is used as a given name or as a short form of names with the letters "Ken" (like Kenneth, Kenan, Kendrick, Kendall, Kennedy, Mackenzie, Kenson, or Kenelm). The surname Lau: Amy Lau (1968–2025), American interior designer Andrew Lau (born 1960), Hong Kong director and producer Andy Lau (born 1961), Hong Kong singer and actor Carina Lau (born 1965), Hong Kong-Canadian actress and director Chak Sing Lau, Hong Kong professor of rheumatology Charley Lau (1933–1984), American catcher and hitting coach in Major League Baseball Christel Lau (born 1944), German field hockey player Constance Lau (born 1991), Singaporean actress and model David Lau (born 1966), Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Emma Lau (born 1991), British actress Evelyn Lau (born 1971), Canadian writer Finn. Ken is a distinctive first name, carried by approximately 83K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Ken reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Ken

Celtic

Ken is a masculine given name of Japanese and Scottish Gaelic origin. The Japanese given name is common among males. It can have many different meanings depending on the kanji used. Ken is also a masculine given name of Scottish / Scottish Gaelic origin. It is used as a given name or as a short form of names with the letters "Ken" (like Kenneth, Kenan, Kendrick, Kendall, Kennedy, Mackenzie, Kenson, or Kenelm).

Surname: Lau

Vietnamese

Amy Lau (1968–2025), American interior designer Andrew Lau (born 1960), Hong Kong director and producer Andy Lau (born 1961), Hong Kong singer and actor Carina Lau (born 1965), Hong Kong-Canadian actress and director Chak Sing Lau, Hong Kong professor of rheumatology Charley Lau (1933–1984), American catcher and hitting coach in Major League Baseball Christel Lau (born 1944), German field hockey player Constance Lau (born 1991), Singaporean actress and model David Lau (born 1966), Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Emma Lau (born 1991), British actress Evelyn Lau (born 1971), Canadian writer Finn.

Geographic Distribution

The first name Ken is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 52%

United Kingdom 27%

Australia 12%

Canada 10%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Ken by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Notable People Named Ken Lau

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Ken Lau:

1

Expression Number

Leadership and independence. This number suggests a self-reliant, ambitious and pioneering personality that forges its own path.

9

Soul Urge Number

Compassion and humanitarianism. A generous, idealistic nature with a sincere desire to improve the world.

1

Personality Number

Leadership and independence. This number suggests a self-reliant, ambitious and pioneering personality that forges its own path.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Ken?: The first name Ken originates from Celtic. Ken is a masculine given name of Japanese and Scottish Gaelic origin. The Japanese given name is common among males. It can have many different meanings depending on the kanji used. Ken is also a masculine given name of Scottish / Scottish Gaelic origin. It is used as a given name or as a short form of names with the letters "Ken" (like Kenneth, Kenan, Kendrick, Kendall, Kennedy, Mackenzie, Kenson, or Kenelm).
When was Ken most popular?: The name Ken reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Lau?: The surname Lau originates from Vietnamese. Amy Lau (1968–2025), American interior designer Andrew Lau (born 1960), Hong Kong director and producer Andy Lau (born 1961), Hong Kong singer and actor Carina Lau (born 1965), Hong Kong-Canadian actress and director Chak Sing Lau, Hong Kong professor of rheumatology Charley Lau (1933–1984), American catcher and hitting coach in Major League Baseball Christel Lau (born 1944), German field hockey player Constance Lau (born 1991), Singaporean actress and model David Lau (born 1966), Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Emma Lau (born 1991), British actress Evelyn Lau (born 1971), Canadian writer Finn.
What are the origins of the name Ken Lau?: The name Ken Lau combines two different traditions: the first name Ken has Celtic roots, while the surname Lau originates from Vietnamese.