Keith
Keith: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /kiːθ/
Meaning and origin of Keith
Root meaning: “sprout, offspring”
- A male given name transferred from the surname.
- A female given name from surname.
Etymology
As a Scottish surname, from the placename in Moray, Scotland, from Scottish Gaelic Cèith, meaning "wood" or "from the battleground," which is probably borrowed from Pictish *ᚉᚓᚈ (cēt) meaning "wood", or a forest, from Proto-Brythonic *koɨd. * As a German surname, from Middle High German kit (“sprout, offspring”); compare Middle High German kint.
How popular is Keith?
Since 1880, 2,216 girls and 437,907 boys in the U.S. have been named Keith (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1283 in 1968. Its highest rank for boys was #32 in 1966. In 2025 it ranked #801 for boys, with 311 babies given the name.
Names similar to Keith
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Surname boy names
Sibling name ideas for Keith
Sister and brother names that share Keith's Surname roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Keith FAQ
What does the name Keith mean?
Keith traces back to a root meaning "sprout, offspring". A male given name transferred from the surname. A female given name from surname. As a Scottish surname, from the placename in Moray, Scotland, from Scottish Gaelic Cèith, meaning "wood" or "from the battleground," which is probably borrowed from Pictish *ᚉᚓᚈ (cēt) meaning "wood", or a forest, from Proto-Brythonic *koɨd. * As a German surname, from Middle High German kit (“sprout, offspring”); compare Middle High German kint.
What is the origin of the name Keith?
Keith is listed as a name of Surname (transferred from a surname) origin.
How popular is the name Keith?
Since 1880, 2,216 girls and 437,907 boys in the U.S. have been named Keith (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1283 in 1968. Its highest rank for boys was #32 in 1966. In 2025 it ranked #801 for boys, with 311 babies given the name.
Is Keith a boy or girl name?
Keith is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 2,216 girls and 437,907 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.