Keair
A modern invented name of unknown meaning or origin.
Name Census estimates that about 68 living Americans carry the first name Keair. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Keair today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Keair births was 1998 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Keair. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Keair. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
68
~ 1 in 5,040,505 Americans
Peak year
1998
8 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2024 SSA rank
#10,369
Tracked since 1989
Popularity
Keair: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Keair from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 24 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Keair by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Keair during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Keair
The name Keair is believed to have originated from the ancient Gaelic language, with roots dating back to the 5th century CE. It is thought to be derived from the Gaelic word "ciar," which means "dark" or "dusky," likely referring to a person's physical appearance or complexion.
During the medieval period, the name Keair was prevalent among Celtic communities in Ireland, Scotland, and parts of Wales. It was often associated with warriors, chieftains, and prominent figures within these societies. The name's connection to the Gaelic language and its meaning suggest a strong cultural significance for those who bore it.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Keair can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In this text, a notable individual named Keair mac Colmáin is mentioned as a king of the Cenél Conaill dynasty, who ruled in the 7th century CE.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Keair. One such figure was Keair of Argyll, a Scottish warrior and clan leader who lived in the 12th century CE. He was renowned for his bravery and leadership in battles against rival clans.
Another famous bearer of the name was Keair the Bard, an Irish poet and musician who lived in the 14th century CE. His works were renowned for their lyrical beauty and preservation of ancient Celtic traditions.
In the 16th century, Keair O'Neill was a prominent Irish chieftain and leader of the O'Neill dynasty. He played a significant role in the ongoing conflicts between the Irish clans and the English forces during the Tudor conquest of Ireland.
Keair MacDonald, born in 1745, was a Scottish Highland warrior and member of the prestigious Clan Donald. He fought alongside the Jacobite forces in the famous Battle of Culloden in 1746, which marked the end of the Jacobite risings.
It is worth noting that while the name Keair has a rich historical significance and cultural roots, its usage has become relatively uncommon in modern times, particularly outside of Celtic regions. However, its enduring legacy serves as a reminder of the rich tapestry of names and their origins across various cultures and civilizations.
People
Keair + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Keair as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Keair: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Keair?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 68 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Keair going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 5,040,505 US residents.
Is Keair a common name?
We classify Keair as "Very Rare". It ranks above 58.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 69 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Keair most popular?
The single biggest year for Keair was 1998, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Keair is about 16 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Keair in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Keair a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Keair in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Keair still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Keair in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Keair can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Keair?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.