Keith
Complete Name Analysis & Etymology Guide
439,808 Total Births
145 Years of Data
1957 Peak Popularity Year
12,483 Peak Births

Keith Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis

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Summary

The name Keith has its roots in Scottish Gaelic, meaning 'wood' or 'forest'. It evolved from the surname associated with a place in Scotland and became popular in the 19th century. The name conveys traits of strength and reliability and has no biblical relevance.

Etymology & Cultural Background of "Keith"

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Pronunciation

/kiːθ/

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Origin

Scottish Gaelic

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Etymology

The name Keith is derived from the Scottish Gaelic name 'Ceiteach', which translates to 'wood' or 'forest'. It was originally a surname used to denote someone from a place named Keith in Scotland.

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Meaning

Wood, forest

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Language Evolution

Ceiteach (Scottish Gaelic), Keith (Modern English)

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Historical Usage

The name gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in Scotland, and has since spread to other English-speaking countries.

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Variants & Derivatives

Keath, Keth

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Modern Popularity & Image

Currently, Keith is viewed as a classic yet accessible name, often associated with strong, dependable characteristics.

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Famous People

Keith Richards - Musician, Keith Urban - Singer, Keith Olbermann - Journalist

📊 Keith Name Trend Analysis

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Girl Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Stable
25-Year Trend: Relatively Stable
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Boy Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Declining
25-Year Trend: Relatively Stable

Explore More Keith Name Visualizations

✨ Keith Name Meaning & Significance

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Popularity Trend

Highly Popular name with 12,483 peak births in 1957

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Geographic Spread

Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in District of Columbia

Historical Span

Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends

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Generational Impact

Influenced 13 different American generations with varying popularity

🔊 Same Pronunciation Names for "Keith" - Complete Guide (5 Names)

Discover the ultimate list of homophone names and same pronunciation names that sound identical to "Keith". These names share the same pronunciation but may have different spellings, offering alternative options for parents seeking similar-sounding names. Whether you're looking for American or British pronunciation variations, this comprehensive guide includes 5 carefully curated names that maintain the same phonetic sound.

Why explore same pronunciation names? Many parents search for homophone names to find alternative spellings that might be more unique or culturally significant. This ultimate list covers both American and British pronunciation patterns, ensuring you find the perfect variation of "Keith" that fits your preferences.

Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Keith"

Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.

Yearly Ranking History of "Keith"

"Keith" Popularity Across American Generations

Generation Gender Rank Total Names
G.I. Generation (1901-1927) Boy 177th of 7545 12,142
Silent Generation (1928-1945) Boy 122nd of 6773 28,120
Baby Boomers (1946-1964) Boy 42nd of 7552 165,292
Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) Boy 41st of 10718 135,180
Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) Boy 74th of 16616 69,682
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) Boy 260th of 24088 20,495
Generation Alpha (2013-2024) Boy 530th of 23106 6,567
G.I. Generation (1901-1927) Girl 3504th of 9107 121
Silent Generation (1928-1945) Girl 2850th of 9204 181
Baby Boomers (1946-1964) Girl 1868th of 12526 621
Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) Girl 1839th of 19264 796
Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) Girl 3535th of 27321 448
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) Girl 19262nd of 35406 44

Regional Popularity of "Keith" by Generation for Male Names

TOP(%) MidWest Northeast South West
G.I. Generation
(1901-1927)
7.77%
110th/1416
19.80%
273rd/1379
18.34%
434th/2366
7.44%
85th/1142
Silent Generation
(1928-1945)
4.98%
77th/1546
8.93%
139th/1556
10.92%
257th/2353
5.30%
82nd/1547
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
1.75%
39th/2227
1.77%
43rd/2430
2.00%
57th/2853
1.77%
49th/2775
Generation X (Gen X)
(1965-1980)
1.46%
43rd/2937
0.95%
33rd/3483
1.14%
40th/3518
1.51%
61st/4044
Millennials (Gen Y)
(1981-1996)
2.04%
75th/3685
1.34%
60th/4475
1.56%
81st/5194
1.90%
120th/6317
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers)
(1997-2012)
5.43%
249th/4582
3.89%
201st/5164
3.35%
245th/7313
4.70%
351st/7463
Generation Alpha
(2013-2024)
11.90%
474th/3984
11.48%
515th/4487
7.27%
496th/6822
10.82%
679th/6276

Regional Popularity of "Keith" by Generation for Female Names

TOP(%) MidWest Northeast South West
G.I. Generation
(1901-1927)
- - - -
Silent Generation
(1928-1945)
- - - -
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
85.77%
1910th/2227
65.76%
1598th/2430
95.37%
2721st/2853
94.59%
2625th/2775
Generation X (Gen X)
(1965-1980)
67.62%
1986th/2937
54.67%
1904th/3483
70.01%
2463rd/3518
64.61%
2613th/4044
Millennials (Gen Y)
(1981-1996)
88.39%
3257th/3685
82.53%
3693rd/4475
100.00%
5194th/5194
77.38%
4888th/6317
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers)
(1997-2012)
- - - -
Generation Alpha
(2013-2024)
- - - -

State-by-State Popularity of "Keith"

This map shows the relative popularity of "Keith" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.

Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Keith" in the United States

The name Keith is most popular in District of Columbia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Keith has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, falling for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Keith' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 177th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 122nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 42nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 41st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 74th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 260th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 530th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3504th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2850th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1868th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1839th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3535th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 19262nd out of 35406 names. Discover how the name 'Keith' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.

Infographic: Keith name meaning, origin, and popularity trends in the United States (US baby name analysis chart)
[600x500px image] Etymology and historical popularity of Keith,
Infographic: Keith same pronunciation names, similar names, and homophone names
[600x500px image] Keith same pronunciation names, similar names, and homophone names