Keith
Boy name · #801 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Keith? In official American birth records, Keith has been tracked continuously since 1888, giving it 137 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 311 baby boys were named Keith, placing it at #801 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #424, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 5,788 boys born in 2025 was named Keith.
The 137-year story
Keith first appears in the Social Security records in 1888, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1957, when 12,437 boys were named Keith — good for #36 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Keith per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Keith against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Keith in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Keith is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Keith will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Keith is most common
Geography matters for names, and Keith is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Keith is most common in SC (0.5 per 1,000), MO (0.5 per 1,000), OH (0.3 per 1,000), FL (0.3 per 1,000), GA (0.3 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Keith is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Keith
Statistically, parents drawn to Keith tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kenneth, Roger, Ricky, Heath, and Randy.
KennethRogerRickyHeathRandyTerryTonyDouglas
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Keith | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 311 | #800 |
| 2024 | 337 | #756 |
| 2023 | 373 | #711 |
| 2022 | 382 | #694 |
| 2021 | 470 | #591 |
| 2020 | 461 | #598 |
| 2019 | 512 | #550 |
| 2018 | 571 | #503 |
| 2017 | 587 | #492 |
| 2016 | 634 | #485 |
| 2015 | 729 | #424 |
| 2014 | 754 | #412 |
| 2013 | 761 | #392 |
| 2012 | 842 | #361 |
| 2011 | 806 | #368 |
| 2010 | 890 | #346 |
| 2009 | 967 | #329 |
| 2008 | 1,061 | #314 |
| 2007 | 1,158 | #298 |
| 2006 | 1,250 | #276 |
| 2005 | 1,165 | #285 |
| 2004 | 1,315 | #252 |
| 2003 | 1,313 | #251 |
| 2002 | 1,326 | #248 |
| 2001 | 1,432 | #237 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Keith?
In official American birth records, the name Keith first appeared in 1888 (over 137 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Keith a popular boy name?
Keith ranked #801 among boys in 2025 with 311 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #424.
When was the name Keith most popular?
Keith peaked in 1957, when 12,437 American boys received the name (ranked #36 that year). Since 1957 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Keith?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 5,788 newborn American boys was named Keith. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.