Keith Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Keith is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Keith?
Keith is spelled K-E-I-T-H. The name has 5 letters.
Keith at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Keith is derived from a Scottish surname that originally referred to a place associated with woods or forest.
- Origin
- Keith is commonly associated with Scotland and may derive from a place name in East Lothian, Scotland, connected to an Old Welsh word meaning “woods” or…
- Pronunciation
- keeth · 1 syllable
Keith Popularity in 2025
Rank#800
Recorded Births311
- Boys usage fell 44 places to #800 and recorded 26 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Keith Mean?
Keith is derived from a Scottish surname that originally referred to a place associated with woods or forest.
Origin: Keith is commonly associated with Scotland and may derive from a place name in East Lothian, Scotland, connected to an Old Welsh word meaning “woods” or “forest.”
How Do You Pronounce Keith?
Pronunciationkeeth
Syllables1
What Is the History of the Name Keith?
- History
- The name Keith has been used as a given name since at least the Middle Ages, initially as a surname identifying origin or residence near a place named Keith.
Keith Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2004 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 311 | #800 |
| 2024 | Boys | 337 | #756 |
| 2023 | Boys | 373 | #711 |
| 2022 | Boys | 382 | #694 |
| 2021 | Boys | 470 | #591 |
| 2020 | Boys | 461 | #598 |
| 2019 | Boys | 512 | #550 |
| 2018 | Boys | 571 | #503 |
| 2017 | Boys | 587 | #492 |
| 2016 | Boys | 634 | #485 |
| 2015 | Boys | 729 | #424 |
| 2014 | Boys | 754 | #412 |
| 2013 | Boys | 761 | #392 |
| 2012 | Boys | 842 | #361 |
| 2011 | Boys | 806 | #368 |
| 2010 | Boys | 890 | #346 |
| 2009 | Boys | 967 | #329 |
| 2008 | Boys | 1,061 | #314 |
| 2007 | Girls | 8 | #12,676 |
| 2007 | Boys | 1,158 | #298 |
| 2006 | Boys | 1,250 | #276 |
| 2005 | Boys | 1,165 | #285 |
| 2004 | Girls | 8 | #11,624 |
| 2004 | Boys | 1,315 | #252 |
When Was Keith Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1957 · Boys
12,437 recorded births
National rank #36
1961 · Boys
12,275 recorded births
National rank #35
1963 · Boys
12,243 recorded births
National rank #33
1960 · Boys
12,180 recorded births
National rank #35
Where Keith Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MO | #457 | 13 |
| SC | #470 | 10 |
| LA | #531 | 8 |
| OK | #552 | 7 |
| OH | #555 | 18 |
| FL | #602 | 28 |
| WI | #618 | 7 |
| UT | #621 | 6 |