Keeghan

Meaning & origin

Keeghan is a rare Irish-derived given name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1992 and reached its peak popularity in 2008. Since then, its usage has steadily declined, placing it at rank 10,695 in 2025 with approximately 1 in 284,679 newborn boys receiving the name. As a variant of Keegan, it carries the same fiery etymology rooted in the Irish god Aodh, but has never achieved the same level of mainstream recognition. Unlike its more common counterpart, Keeghan has not been associated with any top states and remains a distinctive choice for parents seeking a less common alternative within the Irish naming tradition.

Keeghan is a variant of the Irish surname Keegan, which is an anglicized form of the Gaelic Ó hAodhagáin, meaning 'descendant of Aodhagán'. Aodhagán is a diminutive of Aodh, the name of an ancient Irish god of the underworld and later a common personal name meaning 'fire'. The surname has been used as a given name in English-speaking countries since the late 20th century, often as an alternative to the more common Keegan.