Keaffe as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Keaffe

What is the meaning of the name Keaffe ?

The baby name Keaffe is a Unisex name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /kiːf/ (KEEF).

Keaffe is Irish in Origin.

Keaffe is a rare modern respelling of Keefe, an Anglicized given name and surname from the Irish Ó Caoimh, pronounced roughly KEEF. The Gaelic root caomh denotes “gentle, noble, beloved,” often extended to “handsome,” giving Keaffe an overall sense of kindness and esteem. The surname is associated with notable Munster families, especially the O’Keeffes of County Cork, and spread widely through the Irish diaspora, where Keefe began to appear as a first name.

As a given name, usage has been modest in the United States, Canada, and Australia since the late 20th century, following the broader surname-as-first trend. Keaffe itself remains extremely uncommon, with more familiar variants including Keefe, Keeffe, and Keef; O’Keeffe persists mainly as a surname. Related or cognate forms include the Irish feminine Caoimhe (Keeva) and the masculine Kevin (from Caoimhghín, “gentle birth”), all sharing the caomh element. Keaffe suits parents seeking a distinctive Irish-flavored name with a warm, gracious meaning.

⚙ We have no record of Keaffe in any national birth registry or name dataset. That usually points to a very rare, regional, or newly coined name. Whichever it is, scarcely anyone else carries it.