Keith
Boy name · Celtic · Gaelic · Irish · Scottish
Meaningwood, forest · Scottish
- US rank
- #800
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #32 in 1966
311 babies were named Keith in the US in 2025. It has dropped 202 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1888–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Keith you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Keith
Keith Richards
British musician, guitarist of the Rolling Stones
Choose Keith and your child shares a first name with Keith Richards, a British musician, guitarist of the Rolling Stones. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Keith, like who?” Keith Richards's Wikipedia article is available in 86 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Keith Richards on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Siebbi, CC BY 3.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 5,491 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Keith, 311 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Keith would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryKeith first shows up in US birth records in 1888, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 137 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1966, when it ranked #32. Today it's #800, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowKeith was 4.3× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 1,288 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 5,491.
- TrendKeith has slipped 202 places over the last five years and now sits at #800. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedKeith is most popular in Missouri, where it ranks #457, followed by South Carolina (#470) and Louisiana (#531). It's in the top 1,000 in 20 states.
- MeaningIn Scottish, Keith means “wood, forest”. Our records link it to Celtic, Gaelic and Irish roots.
About the name Keith
Keith is a boy name of Celtic, Gaelic and Irish origin meaning “wood, forest”. It has 5 letters and 1 syllable, starting with K and ending in “-ith”. US birth records list Keith for boys from 1888 to 2025, in 137 of those 138 years. Its best year was 1966, when it ranked #32 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #800, with 311 babies.
Origin:Celtic namesGaelic namesIrish namesScottish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 52 | 19,249 boys |
| 1890s | 75 | 13,328 boys |
| 1900s | 205 | 4,875 boys |
| 1910s | 457 | 2,189 boys |
| 1920s | 990 | 1,010 boys |
| 1930s | 1,312 | 762 boys |
| 1940s | 1,695 | 590 boys |
| 1950s | 4,451 | 225 boys |
| 1960s | 5,850 | 171 boys |
| 1970s | 4,636 | 216 boys |
| 1980s | 2,860 | 350 boys |
| 1990s | 1,445 | 692 boys |
| 2000s | 628 | 1,592 boys |
| 2010s | 376 | 2,661 boys |
| 2020s | 225 | 4,443 boys |
More Celtic boy names
- Unisex name: Owen · well-born
- Unisex name: Logan · little hollow
- Unisex name: Rowan · little red-haired one
- Unisex name: Nolan · descendant of Nuallán
- Unisex name: Cameron · crooked nose
- Boy name: Ian · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Gael · a Gael
- Boy name: Arthur · possibly bear
Questions about the name Keith
What does the name Keith mean?
Keith means “wood, forest” in Scottish.
What is the origin of the name Keith?
Keith has Celtic, Gaelic, Irish, Scottish roots in our records. Other Celtic names include Owen, Logan, Rowan.
Is Keith a boy or girl name?
Keith is a boy name.
How popular is the name Keith?
Keith ranked #800 for US boys in 2025, given to 311 babies. Its best year was 1966 (#32).