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Keshav

♂ Boy

Pronounced KEH-shuh /ˈkeː.ʃəʋ/Medium

Meaning: Having much hair, one with luxuriant hairMedium

In 30 seconds: Keshav is a Hindi boy's name meaning 'one with luxuriant hair,' a traditional epithet of Krishna.

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Origin MediumHindi, Marathi

MeaningHaving much hair, one with luxuriant hair

U.S. rank (2025)#2118 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births69 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2025

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,426

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

Keshav comes from Hindi and Sanskrit, meaning 'having much hair' or 'one with luxuriant hair,' and it serves as a classic epithet of the god Krishna. That divine association gives it devotional depth in Indian families. It is a long-established name rather than a modern coinage.

Two firm syllables give Keshav a strong, grounded sound. Bearers include South African cricketer Keshav Maharaj and the Indian field hockey Olympic champion Keshav Dutt.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Keshav is 'having much hair, one with luxuriant hair', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.

Overall data confidence 70%

Behind the Name - Keshav — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Keshav Maharaj (1990–present)
South African cricketer, left-arm orthodox spinner.
★Keshav Dutt (1925–2021)
Indian field hockey, two-time Olympic gold medallist.

If you like Keshav…

Krishna— The deity Keshav serves as an epithet for, tied to it through shared devotional meaning.

Yuvan— An Indian boy's name with a similar firm two-syllable shape to Keshav.

Raghav— shares the -av ending

Krishiv— lands in the same popularity range

Kiran— a fellow Hindi choice

Explore names like Keshav

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Keshav mean?

Keshav is usually explained as meaning 'having much hair, one with luxuriant hair' and is most often linked with Hindi tradition.

How do you pronounce Keshav?

It's commonly said KEH-shuh /ˈkeː.ʃəʋ/.

Is Keshav a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Keshav is used as a boy name.

How popular is Keshav?

In 2024, Keshav ranked #2507 in the U.S. for boys, with 54 births recorded.