The baby name Keif is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /keɪf/ (KAYF); sometimes /kiːf/ (KEEF).
Keif is Irish in Origin.
The baby name Keif is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /keɪf/ (KAYF); sometimes /kiːf/ (KEEF).
Keif is Irish in Origin.
Keif is a modern given name with multiple plausible origins. In an Irish context, it is a phonetic respelling of Keefe, from the Gaelic surname O Caoimh ('descendant of Caomh'), where caomh denotes 'gentle, kind, comely.' In Arabic and Urdu, closely allied forms Kaif/Kief mean 'delight, exultation; mood,' and Keif can function as an anglicized variant. It is also sometimes treated as a brisk twist on Keith, though that Scottish place-name has different roots.
As a given name, Keif is rare, appearing primarily in late 20th- and 21st-century English-speaking records, buoyed by surname-to-first-name trends and streamlined one-syllable styles. Depending on the origin claimed, meanings offered include 'gentle/kind' or 'delight/joy.' Common pronunciation is 'keef.' Variants include Keefe, Keef, Kief, and Kaif; it is sometimes associated with Keith. A related Irish feminine form is Caoimhe ('KEE-va'). Usage is cosmopolitan but uncommon, lending the name a distinctive, contemporary feel.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DK | Boys | 0 | #332 | 1 | 7,401 |
| HK | 0 | #357 | 1 | 8,483 | |
| HK | Boys | 0 | #556 | 2 | 12,905 |
| SG | Girls | 0 | #632 | 1 | 18,916 |
| IQ | Boys | 0 | #697 | 1 | 13,071 |
| SG | Boys | 0 | #737 | 3 | 17,960 |
| SY | 0 | #767 | 1 | 11,684 | |
| United States | Boys | 2001 | #803 | 5 | 6,882 |
| SA | Girls | 0 | #1,014 | 1 | 25,931 |
| AE | Boys | 0 | #1,143 | 1 | 22,615 |
| CO | Girls | 0 | #1,152 | 1 | 16,140 |
| MY | Boys | 0 | #1,182 | 1 | 25,439 |
Keif is popular in 10 countries — most recent births per country:
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