Keith: name meaning, origin & popularity
- Meaning
- “wood, forest”
- Origin
- Scottish Gaelic
- Say it
- KEETH · 1 syllable
- Used for
- Boys
From a Scottish surname, probably from a place name of Brittonic or Gaelic origin; the commonly cited meaning is 'wood' or 'forest'. The exact etymology is not fully certain.
How popular is Keith?
Babies named Keith in 2024336
2024 rank#756 boys
Peak year1966
Total US babies since 1880439,808
Keith is fading: recent use is about 55% of its level ten years before.
Names like Keith
Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.
Keith questions
What does the name Keith mean?
Keith means "wood, forest". It comes from Scottish Gaelic. From a Scottish surname, probably from a place name of Brittonic or Gaelic origin; the commonly cited meaning is 'wood' or 'forest'. The exact etymology is not fully certain.
Is Keith a boy or girl name?
Keith is mainly a boy's name in US records (100% of uses since 1880).
How popular is Keith?
336 US babies were named Keith in 2024. Its peak year was 1966.
How do you pronounce Keith?
Keith is usually pronounced KEETH.
Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.