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Keith

Boy name · 2,854 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Keith: 2,854 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 256 births in 1975.

Meaning “wood” or “forest” in Scottish Gaelic, Keith began as a place name in East Lothian, Scotland, referring to the lands of the Keith family. The name’s most famous bearer is arguably Keith Richards, the legendary guitarist and co-founder of The Rolling Stones, whose wild rock-and-roll persona made the name a counter-culture staple in the 1960s and 70s. Historically, Sir William Keith served as Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania in the early 18th century. The town of Keith in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, shares its name, lending a strong geographical link. Interestingly, though thoroughly Scottish in origin, Keith became particularly popular in the United States during the mid-20th century, peaking in the 1960s, before declining sharply in the 1990s. As a variant, Keith can also appear as Keath, a less common spelling.