Keith

♂ Boy

Pronounced KEETH /kiːθ/High

Meaning: Wood or forest; a Scottish surname from the Gaelic Ceitheach or the place name Keith, meaning wooded area or forest in the Brythonic Celtic traditionMedium

In 30 seconds: Keith is a Scottish Gaelic name meaning wood or forest, one of Scotland's most distinguished clan names turned into a crisp one-syllable first name that dominated mid-20th-century American naming and carries the cool legacy of Keith Richards.

💕 Browse more names

Origin HighScottish Gaelic

MeaningWood or forest; a Scottish surname from the Gaelic Ceitheach or the place name Keith, meaning wooded area or forest in the Brythonic Celtic tradition

U.S. rank (2025)#801 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births311 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1957

Total births (all-time)≈ 437,903

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Keith is a Scottish surname derived from the place name Keith in Aberdeenshire, which most likely comes from a Brythonic Celtic root meaning wood or forest. The Keith clan was one of the most powerful noble families in medieval Scotland, holding the hereditary position of Great Marischal of Scotland from the 12th century.

Keith crossed over to given-name use in the 19th and 20th centuries, becoming enormously popular in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia from the 1940s through the 1960s. While less fashionable now, it retains classic cool through its rock-and-roll associations and is part of the vintage-revival cycle.

Did you know? Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, born in 1943, has been the name's most enduring cool ambassador. In 2024, Rolling Stone magazine ranked the Stones among the greatest rock acts of all time, ensuring that Keith remains associated with timeless musical rebellion.

Overall data confidence 87%

Behind the Name — Keith — Scottish Gaelic etymology and clan historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

KeathKeeth

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

★Keith Richards (1943–present)
English guitarist and co-founder of the Rolling Stones, known for his songwriting partnership with Mick Jagger.
★Keith Urban (1967–present)
New Zealand-born Australian country music singer and four-time Grammy winner, husband of actress Nicole Kidman.

If you like Keith…

Scott— same category of Scottish surname used as a one-syllable American first name

Grant— shares the crisp one-syllable Scottish surname-name tradition

Bruce— same Scottish mid-century one-syllable clan-surname-turned-first-name

Ross— fellow short Scottish one-syllable surname name

Frequently Asked

What does the name Keith mean?

Keith means wood or forest, from a Scottish place name and clan surname in Aberdeenshire.

How do you pronounce Keith?

It is said KEETH, one syllable.

Is Keith a popular name?

Keith was very popular in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s and has since declined, though it retains classic cool.

Is Keith a Scottish name?

Yes, Keith is a Scottish surname from the powerful Clan Keith, one of Scotland's historic noble families.