Where does “Kenya” come from?

Kenya (Indonesian) comes from Sanskrit कन्या, from Proto-Indo-Iranian kanyáH, from Proto-Indo-European ken- — to arise, begin.

Kenya (Indonesian): Kenyan

Definitions

  1. Kenyan

Ancestry of “Kenya”, step by step

Kenya traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Sanskrit कन्या

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Sanskritकन्याgirl, virgin, daughter; the sign of the zodiac...
2Proto-Indo-IraniankanyáHyoung girl, maiden
3Proto-Indo-Europeanken-to arise, begin

via Kikuyu kere nyaga

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Kikuyukere nyagawhite mountain
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ken- →Every word from Proto-Indo-Iranian kanyáH →Every word from Sanskrit कन्या →