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Keith as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Keith

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The baby name Keith is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /kiːθ/.

Keith is Scottish in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 1.0
Origin: Scottish
Pronunciation: /kiːθ/

What is the meaning of the name Keith ?

The baby name Keith is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /kiːθ/.

Keith is Scottish in Origin.

Keith is a Scottish surname-turned-given name, taken from place‑names in East Lothian (Keith/Keith Marischal) and Moray. It is famously borne by Clan Keith, whose chiefs were Earls Marischal; the surname appears in 12th‑century records. The toponym is probably Brittonic or Pictish in origin, most often linked to Welsh coed/coet “wood, forest”; some scholars alternatively point to a Gaelic root denoting “wooded” or “windy” terrain. The sense is thus roughly “from the wooded place,” though the exact etymology remains uncertain.

As a forename, Keith entered wider use in Scotland and England by the 18th–19th centuries and rose sharply in the mid‑20th century, especially in the United States, before declining from its peak in the 1960s–70s. Variant spellings include Keath and Keeth; a rare feminine form is Keitha. Nicknames are uncommon, though Keef occurs. The name combines a crisp sound with strong Scottish associations.

Keith has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Keith

Keith Richards Actor · Born 1943 · United Kingdom Keith Richards is a legendary musician from the United Kingdom, best known as the guitarist of The Rolling Stones. He co-wrote many of their hits, including 'Satisfaction' and 'Jumpin' Jack Flash', and is celebrated for his distinctive guitar riffs and charismatic stage presence. Keith Emerson Musician · Born 1944 · United Kingdom Keith Emerson was an English keyboardist and composer best known for his work in progressive rock, especially with Emerson, Lake & Palmer and earlier with the Nice. He was known for pieces like Lucky Man, From the Beginning, and Karn Evil 9. Keith Moon Actor · Born 1946 · United Kingdom Keith Moon was the energetic drummer for the rock band The Who, known for his wild antics and explosive drumming style. He played on classic tracks like 'My Generation' and 'Baba O'Riley'. Born in 1946 in the United Kingdom, Moon's influence on rock music is still felt today.
Keith Flint Musician · Born 1969 · United Kingdom Keith Flint was best known as the wild-haired vocalist of the electronic dance group The Prodigy. He started out as a dancer before becoming the voice behind their UK number-one hits "Firestarter" and "Breathe," and he was also an avid motorcyclist. Keith Carradine Actor · Born 1949 · United States Keith Carradine is an American actor best known for his role in Robert Altman’s Nashville. Born on August 8, 1949, he is also known for playing Wild Bill Hickok in Deadwood and for his work in film and television over a long career. Guru Musician · Born 1961 · United States Guru, born Keith Elam, was a prominent musician from the United States, best known as one half of the hip-hop duo Gang Starr. He made a significant impact with tracks like 'Mass Appeal' and 'Moment of Truth'. His unique blend of jazz and rap set him apart in the music industry.

Celebrity babies named Keith

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Keith Carradine John Carradine television actor ★★★★★

Keith – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2025 #1 — 836
MT 0 #16 29 1,767
BW 0 #19 1 960
MO 0 #28 25 2,706
NA 0 #30 4 2,537
MT Boys 0 #32 271 4,064
ID 0 #39 1 2,238
CY 0 #60 1 1,632
LU 0 #66 1 2,830
JM 0 #67 21 3,714
IN 0 #71 1 2,963
JP 0 #72 6 4,057
HK Boys 0 #73 2,185 12,905
PH 0 #77 20 5,607
CN 0 #78 9 3,857
MV Boys 0 #79 1 3,375
BG 0 #82 1 1,799
MD Girls 0 #91 2 865
MO Boys 0 #91 157 5,842
TW 0 #91 10 4,523
HK 0 #92 380 8,483
KZ 0 #93 2 1,452
JM Boys 0 #96 256 6,876
QA 0 #99 8 7,011
SD 0 #102 1 2,130
CY Boys 0 #106 24 3,473
OM 0 #106 11 6,215
BW Boys 0 #112 38 4,685
BN Girls 0 #113 2 5,459
HU 0 #115 1 1,675
EE Boys 0 #119 7 2,087
KW 0 #119 3 5,216
BN Boys 0 #124 10 6,332
CR 0 #133 26 5,526
ID Boys 0 #133 3 4,130
PA 0 #134 5 3,797
GR 0 #135 1 3,911
MU 0 #136 2 3,613
JO 0 #140 1 2,158
SG 0 #140 136 11,010
EE Girls 0 #141 2 1,888
BW Girls 0 #147 5 4,216
SG Boys 0 #150 1,082 17,960
MT Girls 0 #153 1 3,773
RS Boys 0 #153 2 2,277
AE 0 #166 12 10,220
HU Boys 0 #172 3 3,954
PR Boys 0 #178 1 2,508
CZ 0 #186 1 3,154
RU 0 #189 6 3,641
ZA 0 #190 272 14,421
NA Boys 0 #199 37 6,830
LT Girls 0 #200 1 1,904
DK 0 #206 1 5,198
SI Boys 0 #211 1 3,402
LU Boys 0 #212 9 4,970
TW Boys 0 #213 29 7,111
AO Girls 0 #216 2 4,575
BG Boys 0 #217 4 3,850
PS 0 #225 2 5,692
ZA Boys 0 #225 2,854 25,619
IR 0 #231 1 4,221
MY 0 #236 99 12,352
NA Girls 0 #236 2 7,146
MO Girls 0 #241 11 7,056
CN Boys 0 #243 79 9,639
EC Boys 0 #246 1 3,322
AO Boys 0 #247 3 5,568
GH 0 #247 2 5,396
JP Girls 0 #248 4 6,592
PH Boys 0 #248 139 11,440
PT 0 #249 2 4,161
HR Boys 0 #257 3 3,997
EC Girls 0 #258 1 3,650
GR Boys 0 #258 10 6,912
JP Boys 0 #265 33 7,909
NG 0 #270 3 5,926
JM Girls 0 #274 5 7,507
Canada Boys 2024 #277 30 2,588
IL 0 #282 1 6,291
SA 0 #282 14 10,560
TW Girls 0 #289 1 8,139
KZ Boys 0 #294 3 6,578
QA Girls 0 #299 18 15,378
CZ Boys 0 #303 3 6,530
DK Boys 0 #310 16 7,401
CR Boys 0 #323 179 10,188
PE 0 #323 7 6,350
PH Girls 0 #323 68 13,098
PL Boys 0 #335 6 6,459
BR 0 #336 10 5,969
GH Girls 0 #336 2 6,973
MU Boys 0 #345 13 8,477
PT Boys 0 #346 22 7,951
GH Boys 0 #353 9 8,138
CN Girls 0 #358 2 8,829
MU Girls 0 #360 3 8,539
NL 0 #381 11 2,481
France Boys 2021 #385 3 2,865
JO Boys 0 #388 2 7,057
YE 0 #398 1 8,639
France Girls 2018 #399 4 3,265
BO 0 #408 1 6,868
EG 0 #412 1 6,387
UY Boys 0 #412 2 5,922
OM Girls 0 #416 9 15,987
Finland Boys 0 #418 10 2,041
Germany 0 #424 14 2,542
Austria Boys 0 #431 12 2,180
CL 0 #431 4 6,867
Spain 0 #431 22 2,326
MX 0 #443 3 8,339
PA Boys 0 #458 24 9,305
MY Boys 0 #462 883 25,439
SD Boys 0 #464 3 10,523
PA Girls 0 #466 16 9,861
PT Girls 0 #469 3 7,952
AR Boys 0 #480 4 7,628
RU Girls 0 #486 13 11,913
KW Girls 0 #491 25 19,177
RU Boys 0 #496 10 12,621
GT Boys 0 #498 2 7,625
CO 0 #505 6 7,768
CR Girls 0 #522 11 11,342
PS Boys 0 #531 18 10,655
AE Girls 0 #532 22 20,968
BH 0 #533 21 17,937
UY Girls 0 #535 2 6,731
GT Girls 0 #537 5 7,500
PS Girls 0 #544 4 10,981
LY 0 #553 7 12,703
CM Girls 0 #557 4 11,671
IR Boys 0 #562 4 10,162
SG Girls 0 #566 21 18,916
CM Boys 0 #568 8 12,054
United States Boys 2024 #577 336 7,044
HK Girls 0 #580 36 16,104
IL Boys 0 #588 20 10,983
BO Girls 0 #596 16 9,488
BD Boys 0 #604 2 10,045
BO Boys 0 #622 1 9,244
AR Girls 0 #630 1 8,289
CL Boys 0 #635 31 13,390
IL Girls 0 #644 2 11,648
Finland Boys 2026 #646 37 3,552
QA Boys 0 #657 51 18,093
LB 0 #688 3 13,263
IQ Boys 0 #693 5 13,071
IT 0 #697 18 4,183
KW Boys 0 #735 35 18,755
BR Boys 0 #738 14 12,213
Spain Boys 0 #748 185 5,610
NG Girls 0 #754 33 15,093
NL Boys 0 #786 166 5,873
PE Boys 0 #808 71 14,506
OM Boys 0 #824 58 17,948
Germany Boys 0 #825 128 5,697
CL Girls 0 #835 17 14,098
BR Girls 0 #846 96 12,708
TN 0 #861 5 13,765
PE Girls 0 #869 75 14,861
EG Boys 0 #873 14 15,035
CO Boys 0 #878 43 15,656
NG Boys 0 #879 73 16,906
SA Girls 0 #898 38 25,931
AE Boys 0 #946 147 22,615
United States Girls 2007 #949 8 10,181
MX Boys 0 #952 31 16,355
MY Girls 0 #973 22 24,821
IN Boys 0 #982 20 16,750
EG Girls 0 #1,009 1 14,742
CO Girls 0 #1,028 51 16,140
ZA Girls 0 #1,080 62 25,928
MA 0 #1,117 12 20,986
MX Girls 0 #1,148 36 17,781
DZ 0 #1,167 10 20,130
TR 0 #1,168 44 19,440
IT Boys 0 #1,283 189 10,046
IT Girls 0 #1,393 54 9,415
SA Boys 0 #1,490 125 28,008

Keith is popular in 82 countries — most recent births per country:

Ireland
Scotland, United Kingdom
Canada
France
United States

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People also ask about Keith

Keith is predominantly a boy's name.
Keith is a one syllable name, pronounced /kiːθ/.
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Kieth, Keath and Keithie.
Yes, very popular — Keith ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 7 countries.
Keith ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Keith's popularity is holding steady. It moved from #1 in 2015 to #1 in 2025 in Ireland.
Yes — 12 notable people named Keith are in our database, including Keith Richards (Actor), Keith Emerson (Musician), Keith Moon (Actor).
Yes — at least 1 celebrity couple has chosen Keith for their child, including John Carradine.