Declining since 1992, #10,695 for boys today.
Popularity of Keifer since 1970
Babies named Keifer per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 15 |
| 1980s | 82 |
| 1990s | 668 |
| 2000s | 268 |
| 2010s | 99 |
| 2020s | 23 |
Meaning & origin
Keifer is a modern given name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1970. It reached its peak popularity in 1991, likely influenced by actor Kiefer Sutherland (born 1966). Since 1992, its usage has been in a falling trajectory. As of 2025, it ranks 10,695th with about 1 in 284,679 boys receiving the name. The name has not been concentrated in any particular state. While its origins are debated between German and Irish roots, the Kiefer spelling remains more common. Keifer offers a distinctive, surname-style choice for parents seeking an underused yet familiar-sounding name.
Keifer is most likely a respelling of the German surname Kiefer, an occupational name for a cooper or barrel maker, from Middle High German kūfer. It may also be a variant of the Irish surname Keifer (from Ó Céirín). As a given name, it emerged in the United States in the late 20th century, possibly influenced by the actor Kiefer Sutherland.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kief, Kif
Sibling names for Keifer
Names that share Keifer's style, for a brother or sister.
