Keir

♂ Boy

Pronounced KEER /ˈkir/High

Meaning: From the Gaelic ciar, 'dark; dark-haired; dusky; black' (a Scottish surname and a kin of the Irish Ciaran)Low

In 30 seconds: Dark; dark-haired; dusky: Keir is Gaelic 'dark; dark-haired'. Crisp, strong, and warm (said 'KEER').

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Origin LowScottish, Irish

MeaningFrom the Gaelic ciar, 'dark; dark-haired; dusky; black' (a Scottish surname and a kin of the Irish Ciaran)

U.S. rank (2025)#10207 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births7 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1970

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,053

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Keir comes from the Gaelic ciar, 'dark; dark-haired; dusky; black' — a Scottish surname and a kin of the Irish Ciaran. Borne by the labour pioneer Keir Hardie. A crisp, strong name (said 'KEER').

In the U.S. it appears in Scottish families. Rare, dark-and-dark-haired at the root, and strong.

Did you know? Keir comes from the Gaelic ciar, 'dark; dark-haired; dusky' — a crisp, strong Scottish name (the actor Keir Dullea and politician Keir Hardie bore it; said 'KEER').

Overall data confidence 55%

References — Keir — Gaelic etymology

Variations

KierCiarKeer

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Keir…

Kieran— a kin Ciar-/'dark' Gaelic boys' name

Ciaran— a kin 'dark' Irish boys' name

Keanu— a sound-neighbor Ke- boys' name

Keenan— another Ke- Gaelic boys' name

Explore names like Keir

By themeirish scottish gaelic

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Keir mean?

Keir is Gaelic for 'dark; dark-haired; dusky'.

How do you pronounce Keir?

It's said KEER /ˈkir/ — one syllable.

Is Keir a boy or girl name?

Keir is a boy's name.

How popular is Keir?

Keir is a rare name in the U.S.