Keathan
A masculine name of Celtic origin meaning "handsome" or "fiery".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Keathan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Keathan today is around 18 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Keathan births was 2008 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Keathan. 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 Keathan. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2008
5 babies that year
Average age
18
years old
2008 SSA rank
#13,609
Tracked since 2008
Popularity
Keathan: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Keathan 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 Keathan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Keathan
The given name Keathan is of Celtic origin, with roots tracing back to ancient Irish and Scottish Gaelic cultures. The name is derived from the Old Irish word "ciatach," meaning "comely" or "handsome." This word is closely related to the Scottish Gaelic word "ciatan," which translates to "fire" or "ardent one."
In the early medieval period, the name Keathan was predominantly found in Ireland and Scotland, particularly among the clans and families of the Gaelic-speaking regions. It was a popular choice for baby boys, as it conveyed a sense of strength, attractiveness, and vitality.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Keathan can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals mention a Keathan mac Áedáin, a renowned warrior who lived in the 7th century and fought against the invading Vikings.
Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the name Keathan. In the 12th century, Keathan Ó Maolchonaire was a renowned Irish poet and scholar who composed works in both Irish and Latin. His poems and writings offer valuable insights into the cultural and literary traditions of medieval Ireland.
In the 16th century, Keathan MacDonald was a prominent Scottish chieftain of the Clan Donald. He played a significant role in the ongoing struggles between the Scottish clans and the English crown, ultimately sacrificing his life in the Battle of Glenlivet in 1594.
Moving into the 18th century, Keathan O'Callaghan was an Irish rebel leader who participated in the Irish Rebellion of 1798. He fought against British rule in Ireland and was eventually captured and executed for his role in the uprising.
In the 19th century, Keathan MacKenzie was a Scottish-born explorer and surveyor who made significant contributions to the mapping and exploration of the Canadian Rockies. His detailed maps and journals provided invaluable information about the rugged terrain and indigenous cultures of the region.
While the name Keathan has deep historical roots, it has remained relatively uncommon in modern times. However, its rich cultural heritage and symbolic associations with beauty, strength, and courage continue to inspire parents seeking unique and meaningful names for their children.
People
Keathan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Keathan 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
Keathan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Keathan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Keathan 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Keathan a common name?
We classify Keathan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Keathan most popular?
The single biggest year for Keathan was 2008, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Keathan is about 18 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 Keathan in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Keathan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Keathan 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 Keathan still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Keathan 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 Keathan 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 are named Keathan?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.