Keduse
An Amharic feminine name meaning "holy" or "sacred".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Keduse. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Keduse today is around 21 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Keduse births was 2005 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Keduse. 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 Keduse. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2005
5 babies that year
Average age
21
years old
2005 SSA rank
#12,428
Tracked since 2005
Popularity
Keduse: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Keduse 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 Keduse 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 Keduse
The name Keduse has its origins in the Amharic language, which is spoken in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is derived from the Amharic word "qəddus," meaning "holy" or "sacred." The name has been in use in this region for centuries, dating back to the ancient Aksumite Empire, which embraced Christianity in the 4th century AD.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Keduse can be found in the Kebre Negest, an important Ethiopic text that chronicles the history and legends of the Solomonic dynasty. This ancient text, which dates back to the 14th century, mentions a notable figure named Keduse who played a significant role in the religious and cultural life of the kingdom.
Throughout the centuries, the name Keduse has been borne by numerous individuals of historical significance. One notable example is Keduse Tafari, a 16th-century Ethiopian monk and scholar who was renowned for his contributions to the study of the Ge'ez language and the translation of religious texts.
In the 19th century, Keduse Gebra Hiwot was a prominent Ethiopian nobleman and military leader who played a crucial role in the struggle against the invading forces of the Sudanese Mahdist state. He is remembered for his bravery and unwavering defense of his homeland.
Another notable figure is Keduse Tekle Haimanot, a 20th-century Ethiopian priest and spiritual leader who was widely respected for his wisdom and dedication to spreading the teachings of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. He was instrumental in the establishment of several monasteries and churches throughout the country.
The name Keduse has also been carried by individuals outside of Ethiopia. For instance, Keduse Ghirmai was a prominent Eritrean politician and diplomat who served as the first Vice President of Eritrea after the country gained independence in 1993. He played a pivotal role in shaping Eritrea's foreign policy during its early years as a sovereign nation.
While the name Keduse has its roots in the Amharic language and Ethiopian culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and has been embraced by people of various backgrounds, particularly those with ties to the Horn of Africa region. The name continues to hold significant cultural and spiritual significance, reflecting the rich heritage and traditions of this part of the world.
People
Keduse + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Keduse 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
Keduse: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Keduse?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Keduse 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 Keduse a common name?
We classify Keduse 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 Keduse most popular?
The single biggest year for Keduse was 2005, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Keduse is about 21 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 Keduse in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Keduse a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Keduse 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 Keduse still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Keduse 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 Keduse 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 Keduse?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans are named Keduse on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.