Fun Facts About the Name Keith
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 437,903 boys named Keith from 1880 through 2025.
- An established favorite: Keith held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 46 consecutive years, from 1946 through 1991.
- More than 440 thousand babies named Keith: U.S. records list 440,119 babies given the name Keith from 1880 through 2025. Even 2,216 girls received the name Keith - about 1 girl for every 198 boys.
What Does the Name Keith Mean?
Keith is a Scottish name that came into use through a place name. The lands and barony of Keith lie in East Lothian, in southeast Scotland, and the surname taken from them was later used as a first name. The place name is generally explained as going back to a Brittonic, or P-Celtic, word for "wood" or "forest," related to modern Welsh coed ("wood, trees"). Read literally, the name's sense is roughly "wood" or "woodland place." The exact Celtic word behind it is a reconstruction rather than a directly recorded form, so the precise early spelling is not certain.
Keith Name History & Origins
The name began as a surname attached to the lands of Keith in East Lothian. By the medieval period the Keith family had become prominent in Scotland, and its chiefs held the office of Marischal of Scotland, which became hereditary in the family. The surname is found in Scottish records from that era, and it spread through the Scottish Lowlands.
Keith passed into use as a given name later, as surnames drawn from land and family came to be used as first names. It became established in Scotland and then in the wider English-speaking world, particularly during the 19th and 20th centuries.
How Popular is the Name Keith?
Keith remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1946 to 1991. Its highest annual birth count was in 1957, and people born that year turn 69 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | #13,305 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #12,190 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2003 | #11,871 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2002 | #14,517 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #10,320 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1997 | #14,896 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #10,042 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #14,538 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #7,876 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1993 | #6,433 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1992 | #6,149 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1991 | #6,787 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1990 | #4,309 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1989 | #3,829 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1988 | #2,616 | 41 | 0.0023% |
| 1987 | #2,345 | 45 | 0.0026% |
| 1986 | #2,696 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 1985 | #2,270 | 45 | 0.0026% |
| 1984 | #2,245 | 44 | 0.0026% |
| 1983 | #2,372 | 40 | 0.0024% |
| 1982 | #2,509 | 38 | 0.0022% |
| 1981 | #2,284 | 44 | 0.0026% |
| 1980 | #2,408 | 40 | 0.0024% |
| 1979 | #2,230 | 44 | 0.0027% |
| 1978 | #2,823 | 29 | 0.0019% |
| 1977 | #2,276 | 40 | 0.0026% |
| 1976 | #1,625 | 61 | 0.0042% |
| 1975 | #2,382 | 34 | 0.0023% |
| 1974 | #1,762 | 51 | 0.0035% |
| 1973 | #1,556 | 60 | 0.0041% |
| 1972 | #1,868 | 45 | 0.0030% |
| 1971 | #1,836 | 48 | 0.0029% |
| 1970 | #1,624 | 58 | 0.0033% |
| 1969 | #1,767 | 48 | 0.0028% |
| 1968 | #1,283 | 74 | 0.0045% |
| 1967 | #1,409 | 62 | 0.0038% |
| 1966 | #1,436 | 59 | 0.0035% |
| 1965 | #1,728 | 43 | 0.0024% |
| 1964 | #1,737 | 45 | 0.0024% |
| 1963 | #1,607 | 50 | 0.0026% |
| 1962 | #1,503 | 56 | 0.0028% |
| 1961 | #1,561 | 53 | 0.0026% |
| 1960 | #1,684 | 45 | 0.0022% |
| 1959 | #1,576 | 48 | 0.0024% |
| 1958 | #1,666 | 42 | 0.0021% |
| 1957 | #1,599 | 46 | 0.0022% |
| 1956 | #1,946 | 31 | 0.0015% |
| 1955 | #1,895 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1954 | #2,479 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1953 | #2,396 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1952 | #1,760 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 1951 | #2,285 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1950 | #2,217 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1949 | #2,789 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1948 | #2,549 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1947 | #2,979 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1946 | #2,271 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1945 | #3,839 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1944 | #2,242 | 16 | 0.0012% |
| 1943 | #2,779 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1942 | #2,901 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1941 | #2,950 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1940 | #4,103 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1939 | #3,288 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1938 | #2,663 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1937 | #3,628 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1936 | #3,937 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1934 | #3,314 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1933 | #2,334 | 13 | 0.0013% |
| 1932 | #2,736 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1931 | #2,256 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1930 | #2,157 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1929 | #3,259 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1928 | #2,238 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1927 | #3,175 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1926 | #2,636 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1925 | #2,154 | 18 | 0.0015% |
| 1924 | #3,524 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1923 | #4,679 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1922 | #2,433 | 15 | 0.0012% |
| 1921 | #3,848 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1920 | #3,001 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1919 | #3,331 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1918 | #3,388 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1917 | #4,948 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1916 | #3,415 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1900 | #2,075 | 5 | 0.0017% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #801 | 311 | 0.0182% |
| 2024 | #756 | 336 | 0.0196% |
| 2023 | #713 | 373 | 0.0218% |
| 2022 | #693 | 382 | 0.0219% |
| 2021 | #596 | 468 | 0.0268% |
| 2020 | #597 | 461 | 0.0267% |
| 2019 | #550 | 512 | 0.0285% |
| 2018 | #503 | 570 | 0.0314% |
| 2017 | #493 | 587 | 0.0317% |
| 2016 | #485 | 634 | 0.0334% |
| 2015 | #424 | 729 | 0.0380% |
| 2014 | #412 | 754 | 0.0393% |
| 2013 | #393 | 761 | 0.0402% |
| 2012 | #362 | 842 | 0.0444% |
| 2011 | #368 | 806 | 0.0424% |
| 2010 | #345 | 890 | 0.0464% |
| 2009 | #329 | 967 | 0.0488% |
| 2008 | #315 | 1,061 | 0.0520% |
| 2007 | #298 | 1,156 | 0.0557% |
| 2006 | #276 | 1,250 | 0.0608% |
| 2005 | #285 | 1,165 | 0.0583% |
| 2004 | #252 | 1,315 | 0.0663% |
| 2003 | #251 | 1,313 | 0.0665% |
| 2002 | #248 | 1,326 | 0.0683% |
| 2001 | #237 | 1,432 | 0.0737% |
| 2000 | #222 | 1,525 | 0.0777% |
| 1999 | #206 | 1,662 | 0.0866% |
| 1998 | #190 | 1,785 | 0.0934% |
| 1997 | #169 | 2,000 | 0.1061% |
| 1996 | #159 | 2,183 | 0.1152% |
| 1995 | #142 | 2,457 | 0.1291% |
| 1994 | #126 | 2,785 | 0.1442% |
| 1993 | #109 | 3,265 | 0.1665% |
| 1992 | #102 | 3,628 | 0.1816% |
| 1991 | #89 | 4,124 | 0.2041% |
| 1990 | #80 | 4,481 | 0.2182% |
| 1989 | #70 | 4,892 | 0.2445% |
| 1988 | #70 | 4,948 | 0.2585% |
| 1987 | #69 | 4,782 | 0.2561% |
| 1986 | #66 | 5,040 | 0.2737% |
| 1985 | #64 | 5,215 | 0.2822% |
| 1984 | #61 | 5,328 | 0.2952% |
| 1983 | #61 | 5,313 | 0.2964% |
| 1982 | #59 | 5,620 | 0.3097% |
| 1981 | #58 | 5,621 | 0.3138% |
| 1980 | #56 | 5,887 | 0.3300% |
| 1979 | #52 | 6,188 | 0.3594% |
| 1978 | #49 | 6,172 | 0.3759% |
| 1977 | #48 | 6,598 | 0.4015% |
| 1976 | #48 | 6,744 | 0.4298% |
| 1975 | #49 | 6,822 | 0.4369% |
| 1974 | #44 | 7,390 | 0.4700% |
| 1973 | #41 | 8,167 | 0.5240% |
| 1972 | #38 | 9,146 | 0.5640% |
| 1971 | #37 | 9,852 | 0.5571% |
| 1970 | #38 | 9,615 | 0.5174% |
| 1969 | #36 | 9,443 | 0.5280% |
| 1968 | #35 | 9,865 | 0.5676% |
| 1967 | #34 | 11,006 | 0.6311% |
| 1966 | #32 | 11,614 | 0.6512% |
| 1965 | #35 | 10,671 | 0.5736% |
| 1964 | #34 | 11,655 | 0.5849% |
| 1963 | #33 | 12,242 | 0.6028% |
| 1962 | #36 | 11,625 | 0.5619% |
| 1961 | #35 | 12,278 | 0.5781% |
| 1960 | #35 | 12,174 | 0.5710% |
| 1959 | #39 | 11,759 | 0.5509% |
| 1958 | #37 | 11,903 | 0.5609% |
| 1957 | #36 | 12,437 | 0.5765% |
| 1956 | #36 | 11,480 | 0.5427% |
| 1955 | #39 | 10,415 | 0.5056% |
| 1954 | #45 | 8,358 | 0.4099% |
| 1953 | #47 | 7,376 | 0.3740% |
| 1952 | #49 | 7,174 | 0.3691% |
| 1951 | #59 | 5,767 | 0.3063% |
| 1950 | #78 | 4,567 | 0.2551% |
| 1949 | #85 | 3,878 | 0.2186% |
| 1948 | #89 | 3,661 | 0.2086% |
| 1947 | #91 | 3,683 | 0.2013% |
| 1946 | #96 | 2,860 | 0.1761% |
| 1945 | #108 | 2,164 | 0.1608% |
| 1944 | #104 | 2,293 | 0.1682% |
| 1943 | #108 | 2,382 | 0.1669% |
| 1942 | #123 | 1,785 | 0.1292% |
| 1941 | #119 | 1,652 | 0.1345% |
| 1940 | #125 | 1,512 | 0.1304% |
| 1939 | #117 | 1,506 | 0.1361% |
| 1938 | #120 | 1,535 | 0.1384% |
| 1937 | #123 | 1,342 | 0.1258% |
| 1936 | #122 | 1,402 | 0.1352% |
| 1935 | #125 | 1,368 | 0.1314% |
| 1934 | #125 | 1,353 | 0.1310% |
| 1933 | #127 | 1,315 | 0.1326% |
| 1932 | #133 | 1,315 | 0.1259% |
| 1931 | #123 | 1,377 | 0.1324% |
| 1930 | #130 | 1,354 | 0.1234% |
| 1929 | #138 | 1,242 | 0.1155% |
| 1928 | #139 | 1,223 | 0.1104% |
| 1927 | #141 | 1,232 | 0.1093% |
| 1926 | #148 | 1,120 | 0.1009% |
| 1925 | #146 | 1,138 | 0.1020% |
| 1924 | #150 | 1,071 | 0.0945% |
| 1923 | #145 | 1,104 | 0.1007% |
| 1922 | #157 | 984 | 0.0904% |
| 1921 | #153 | 998 | 0.0906% |
| 1920 | #175 | 803 | 0.0754% |
| 1919 | #194 | 653 | 0.0666% |
| 1918 | #214 | 580 | 0.0572% |
| 1917 | #216 | 518 | 0.0560% |
| 1916 | #224 | 476 | 0.0535% |
| 1915 | #236 | 422 | 0.0497% |
| 1914 | #251 | 291 | 0.0444% |
| 1913 | #261 | 212 | 0.0414% |
| 1912 | #273 | 169 | 0.0393% |
| 1911 | #356 | 60 | 0.0266% |
| 1910 | #411 | 43 | 0.0221% |
| 1909 | #366 | 42 | 0.0256% |
| 1908 | #351 | 42 | 0.0272% |
| 1907 | #318 | 45 | 0.0306% |
| 1906 | #391 | 31 | 0.0233% |
| 1905 | #350 | 35 | 0.0265% |
| 1904 | #551 | 17 | 0.0133% |
| 1903 | #460 | 21 | 0.0176% |
| 1902 | #482 | 20 | 0.0163% |
| 1901 | #520 | 15 | 0.0141% |
| 1900 | #638 | 16 | 0.0106% |
| 1899 | #532 | 14 | 0.0132% |
| 1898 | #945 | 7 | 0.0057% |
| 1897 | #893 | 7 | 0.0062% |
| 1896 | #572 | 14 | 0.0117% |
| 1895 | #1,031 | 6 | 0.0051% |
| 1894 | #654 | 11 | 0.0095% |
| 1893 | #558 | 13 | 0.0116% |
| 1892 | #910 | 7 | 0.0057% |
| 1890 | #848 | 7 | 0.0063% |
| 1889 | #931 | 6 | 0.0054% |
| 1888 | #990 | 6 | 0.0050% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
