Holding steady.
Popularity of Keath since 1948
Babies named Keath per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 5 |
| 1950s | 7 |
| 1960s | 42 |
| 1970s | 73 |
| 1980s | 54 |
| 1990s | 30 |
| 2000s | 17 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Keath is a rare given name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1948, likely as a respelling of the more common Keith. Its popularity peaked in 1972, when it saw its highest recorded usage, though it has never ranked among the top 1000 names. The name has remained stable in usage since the 1970s, with very low frequency: approximately 1 in every million boys or fewer in recent years. While Keath has no strong regional concentration in the U.S., its origin as a variant of the Scottish surname Keith gives it a distinct, understated character. Parents drawn to short, strong masculine names with Celtic roots may find Keath an uncommon alternative to Keith or Heath.
Keath is most likely a transferred use of the Scottish surname Keith, which originated as a habitational name from the barony of Keith in East Lothian. The place name derives from the Scottish Gaelic word 'ceite' or 'cèite', meaning 'forest' or 'wood'. As a given name, it gained some popularity in the United States beginning in the mid-20th century, particularly in the 1970s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Keith
Variants: Keith
Sibling names for Keath
Names that share Keath's style, for a brother or sister.
