Keita

♂ Boy

Pronounced KAY-tah /ˈkeɪ.tɑ/Medium

Meaning: From the Japanese Keita, variously 'respectful; big/thick' (by hanja); also the Mandinka Keita, the royal surname of the Mali Empire (as in Sundiata Keita); routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: Respectful; a West African royal surname: Keita is a Japanese/Mandinka name. Crisp and warm (said 'KAY-tah'). Routes layered.

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Origin LowJapanese, Mandinka

MeaningFrom the Japanese Keita, variously 'respectful; big/thick' (by hanja); also the Mandinka Keita, the royal surname of the Mali Empire (as in Sundiata Keita); routes layered

U.S. rank (2025)#13001 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1981

Total births (all-time)≈ 491

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

Keita comes from the Japanese Keita, variously 'respectful; big/thick' (by hanja); it is also the Mandinka Keita, the royal surname of the Mali Empire (routes layered). A crisp name (said 'KAY-tah').

In the U.S. it appears very rarely, mostly in Japanese and West African families. Rare, a royal name, and crisp.

Did you know? Keita is variously 'respectful; big' in Japanese (by hanja) — and the Mandinka Keita, the royal surname of the Mali Empire (as in Sundiata Keita) — a crisp choice (routes layered; said 'KAY-tah').

Overall data confidence 44%

References — Keita — Japanese/Mandinka; routes layered

Variations

KeataKeyta

Nicknames

Kei

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Keita…

Keiko— a kin Kei- Japanese name

Kenji— a fellow Japanese boys' name

Kaito— a companion Japanese name

Kota— a fellow Japanese choice

Koi— shares Keita's Japanese roots

Explore names like Keita

By themeuncertain japanese mandinka

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Keita mean?

Keita is Japanese, variously 'respectful; big' (by hanja); also the Mandinka royal surname of the Mali Empire. The routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Keita?

It's said KAY-tah /ˈkeɪ.tɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Keita a boy or girl name?

Keita is a boy's name.

How popular is Keita?

Keita is a very rare name in the U.S.