Key
- US rank
- Unranked
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #3,264 in 1914
0 babies were named Key in the US in 2025.
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US births per million boys, 1914–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Key you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- HistoryKey first shows up in US birth records in 1914, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 111 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1914, when it reached #3,264.
About the name Key
Key is a boy name of English and Irish origin. It has 3 letters and 1 syllable, starting with K and ending in “-key”. US birth records list Key for boys from 1914 to 2024, in 27 of those 111 years. Its best year was 1914, when it ranked #3,264 among boy names. It hasn't been given to 5 or more US babies in a year since 2024, so today it's a genuinely rare choice.
Origin:English namesIrish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 2.2 | 461,538 boys |
| 1940s | 0.3 | 3,571,429 boys |
| 1950s | 0.3 | 3,703,704 boys |
| 1960s | 0.6 | 1,785,714 boys |
| 1970s | 1.2 | 840,336 boys |
| 1980s | 0.8 | 1,176,471 boys |
| 1990s | 2.7 | 373,134 boys |
| 2000s | 0.8 | 1,190,476 boys |
| 2010s | 0.8 | 1,265,823 boys |
| 2020s | 1.8 | 568,182 boys |
Other spellings of Key
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Key
What is the origin of the name Key?
Key has English, Irish roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Key a boy or girl name?
Key is a boy name.
How popular is the name Key?
Key is rare: fewer than 5 US boys got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2024. It peaked at #3,264 in 1914.