Keith

At a Glance: Name: Keith – Meaning: wood, forest – Origin: Scottish (place name/surname) – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: KEETH

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Keith is a boy's name of Scottish origin, taken from a place name and surname, and carries the meaning "wood" or "forest." It's pronounced KEETH (/ˈkiːθ/), and it has that vintage quality of a name that was once everywhere and has since receded. If you're drawn to names with a settled, established feel rather than something newly trendy, Keith fits that mold.

Meaning & Origin of Keith

Meaning: Wood, forest.

Origin: Scottish (place name/surname).

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Keith

Phonetic: KEETH   IPA: /ˈkiːθ/

Popularity of Keith

Keith hit its high point in 1966, when it ranked #32 nationally with 11,614 babies given the name. By 2024 it had fallen to #756, with just 336 babies — a clear step back from its mid-century peak, based on Social Security data spanning 1888-2024.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1888–2024.

Make Keith Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Keith, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Bruce
• Allan
• Alpin
• Cailean
• Clyde
• Craig

FAQ

What does the name Keith mean?

Wood, forest. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Keith)

How do you pronounce Keith?

Keith is pronounced KEETH (IPA: /ˈkiːθ/).

Is Keith a popular name right now?

Keith peaked at #32 in 1966 and is ranked #756 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1888–2024.)

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