Discover and Shortlist Your Perfect Baby Names!

Keir as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Keir

Add to my Name List

The baby name Keir is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced KEER (IPA: /kɪər/ or /kɪr/).

Keir is Irish, Scottish Gaelic in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 1.0
Pronunciation: KEER (IPA: /kɪər/ or /kɪr/)

What is the meaning of the name Keir ?

The baby name Keir is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced KEER (IPA: /kɪər/ or /kɪr/).

Keir is Irish, Scottish Gaelic in Origin.

Keir (pronounced KEER) is a Scottish given name with Gaelic roots, ultimately from ciar, meaning "dark," "dusky," or "dark-haired." It has long appeared both as a forename and a surname in Scotland, sometimes linked to place-names, but most often treated as a compact Scottish form related to the Irish Gaelic Ciar and Ciarán. The semantic association with dark hair or complexion mirrors that of the better-known Kieran.

As a personal name, Keir gained wider recognition in the 19th and 20th centuries and today feels crisp and modern while retaining Celtic character. Notable bearers include American actor Keir Dullea and British politician Keir Starmer, which have reinforced the name’s visibility in the English-speaking world. Variant spellings and cognates include Kier, Kieran/Ciaran, and the feminine forms Ciara/Keira. Usage is predominantly masculine, though occasionally unisex in contemporary naming.

Keir has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Keir

Keir Dullea Actor · Born 1936 · United States Keir Dullea is an American actor best known for playing astronaut David Bowman in 2001: A Space Odyssey. He later returned to the role in the sequel 2010: The Year We Make Contact. Keir O'Donnell Actor · Born 1978 · United States Keir O'Donnell is an Australian actor best known for his roles in Wedding Crashers, The Break-Up, and American Sniper. He has also appeared in many television shows throughout his career. Keir Gilchrist Actor · Born 1992 · Canada Keir Gilchrist is a Canadian actor best known for starring as Sam Gardner in the Netflix comedy-drama Atypical. He also played Marshall Gregson on United States of Tara.

Keir – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
CY 0 #60 1 1,632
PH 0 #110 1 5,607
AE 0 #187 1 10,220
SG 0 #282 1 11,010
Canada Boys 2020 #316 7 2,548
MY 0 #354 1 12,352
PT Boys 0 #381 1 7,951
PH Boys 0 #408 1 11,440
PH Girls 0 #429 1 13,098
CL 0 #434 1 6,867
CR Boys 0 #509 2 10,188
CO 0 #510 1 7,768
RU Boys 0 #526 1 12,621
HK Boys 0 #555 3 12,905
LB 0 #690 1 13,263
IQ Boys 0 #697 1 13,071
SG Boys 0 #736 4 17,960
United States Boys 2024 #880 13 7,044
EG Boys 0 #925 1 15,035
PE Boys 0 #925 2 14,506
CO Boys 0 #981 1 15,656
MX Boys 0 #1,032 2 16,355
MY Girls 0 #1,072 1 24,821
AE Boys 0 #1,141 3 22,615
MY Boys 0 #1,179 4 25,439
MA 0 #1,199 1 20,986
DZ 0 #1,233 2 20,130
ZA Girls 0 #1,235 2 25,928
ZA Boys 0 #1,266 7 25,619
SA Boys 0 #1,690 2 28,008

Keir is popular in 22 countries — most recent births per country:

Scotland, United Kingdom
United States
Canada
AE
CL

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Keir

Keir is predominantly a boy's name.
Keir is a one syllable name, pronounced KEER (IPA: /kɪər/ or /kɪr/).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Kier, Keer, Ciar and Kiar.
Across languages, Keir has these equivalents: Kieran (Irish, 'little dark one'), Ciara (feminine), Blake (English, 'dark'), Cole (English, 'coal/black').
Yes — Keir ranked #316 in Canada in 2020, and appears in official birth registries across 3 countries.
Keir ranks highest in Canada (#316 in 2020).
Keir's popularity is declining. It moved from #876 in 2014 to #880 in 2024 in United States.
Yes — 3 notable people named Keir are in our database, including Keir Dullea (Actor), Keir O'Donnell (Actor), Keir Gilchrist (Actor).