How Many People Are Named Keith?

Complete statistics for the name Keith: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Keith
Uncommon
Old English

Keith means 'bright' and has an old-world charm. That's just 1 in 967 Americans who have this name, making it uncommon yet beloved. With nearly half of people named Keith over 60, it definitely skews towards older generations.

~45,259
Living in US
1 in 7,323
Americans
1957
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Bright
🌐
Origin
Old English
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 8
Personality Traits
Confident Determined
8
Life Path Number

Life path number 8 symbolizes leadership, authority, and material success.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

341,357
Worldwide Bearers
#820
Global Rank
🇯🇲 Jamaica
6,979
🇮🇪 Ireland
6,380
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
4,078
🇧🇷 Brazil
2,689
🇳🇬 Nigeria
2,340
🇹🇭 Thailand
1,980
🇿🇲 Zambia
1,675
🇲🇹 Malta
1,665
🇸🇩 Sudan
1,586
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
1,515

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
339,560 (99%)
♀ Female
1,797 (1%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 59
27,106
Would be under 30 (6%)
195,392
Would be 30–60 (44%)
217,310
Would be over 60 (49%)

All 439,808 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1957

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Declining

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
100
Classic Feel
73
Modern Appeal
27
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Keith Through the Generations

Keith peaked in popularity back in 1957 with 12,483 births, marking a high point in its history. Today, there are 341,357 people named Keith living in the US, with the majority being over 60 years old. This trend reflects a classic name that's becoming less common among younger generations, but remains a cherished choice for many families.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

New York 35,195
California 32,219
Pennsylvania 27,636
Ohio 25,754
Illinois 25,524
Michigan 24,015
Texas 19,178
New Jersey 15,040
Florida 13,166
Indiana 12,908

⭐ Famous People Named Keith

Keith is a masculine given name of Gaelic origin. It means "wood" or "from the battleground" and shares the same derivation as Clan Keith. The surname derives from a toponym, Keith Marischal in East Lothian, possibly containing the Brittonic element *cet "woods, forest." Keith was the 298th most common name given to newborn boys in the United States in 2007.…

Full list on Wikipedia →

✨ Similar Names to Keith

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Keith's Old English roots

📄 About the Name Keith

How Many People Have the Name Keith?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 45,259 people in the United States currently share the name Keith. That works out to roughly 1 in every 7,323 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.

Is Keith a Common or Rare Name?

Keith is classified as Uncommon. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Keith Mean?

Keith means "bright" and comes from Old English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 8.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Keith in SSA data, approximately 99% are male and 1% are female.

When Was Keith Most Popular?

The name Keith reached peak popularity in 1957, with 12,483 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Keith?

Approximately 45,259 people named Keith live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 45,259. That works out to roughly 1 in 7,323 Americans.

Is Keith a rare name?

Keith is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 7,323 Americans has this name.

What does the name Keith mean?

Keith means "bright" and comes from Old English origins.

Is Keith more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 99% of people named Keith are male and 1% are female.

When was Keith most popular?

Keith peaked in 1957 with 12,483 births that year. Current trend: Declining.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US45,259
All-Time Births45,259
1 in X1 in 7,323
RarityUncommon
GenderMale
Avg Age59
Peak Year1957
World Rank#820
Male %99%
Female %1%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.