Keegun
A name suggesting an Irish origin and meaning "born of fire".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Keegun. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Keegun today is around 18 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Keegun births was 2008 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Keegun. 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 Keegun. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
2008
6 babies that year
Average age
18
years old
2008 SSA rank
#11,852
Tracked since 2008
Popularity
Keegun: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Keegun 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 Keegun 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 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Keegun
The name Keegun is a relatively uncommon given name with obscure origins. It is believed to have roots in the Algonquian languages spoken by various Native American tribes across North America. The name may be derived from the word "keegan," which was used by some tribes to refer to a type of small, swift bird.
In the early 17th century, as European settlers began to arrive in the Americas, they encountered many Native American tribes and likely adapted some of their words and names. It is possible that the name Keegun was first recorded during this period, as Europeans attempted to transcribe and interpret the unfamiliar sounds of Native American languages.
While there are no definitive historical records or texts that mention the name Keegun, it is possible that it appeared in some early accounts or records kept by European explorers or colonists. However, the name's usage was likely limited and localized to specific regions or tribes.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Keegun was a Native American man from the Wampanoag tribe, who lived in the area of present-day Massachusetts in the late 16th or early 17th century. Few details about his life are known, but his name was recorded by early European settlers in the region.
In the 19th century, a man named Keegun Smith (1832-1892) was a prominent figure in the Choctaw Nation, serving as a chief and advocate for his tribe's rights. He played a significant role in negotiating treaties and advocating for the Choctaw people during a period of upheaval and displacement.
Another notable individual with the name Keegun was a Native American artist and activist named Keegun Silas (1920-1998), who was born in Oklahoma and spent his life promoting and preserving the traditions and culture of his people through his artwork and activism.
In the mid-20th century, a man named Keegun Yellowhorse (1928-2008) was a respected elder and spiritual leader among the Navajo people. He was known for his knowledge of traditional Navajo ceremonies and his efforts to pass on these traditions to younger generations.
More recently, Keegun Nordraa (born 1972) is a contemporary artist and sculptor of Native American descent, known for his works that explore themes of identity, culture, and the environment.
While the name Keegun is relatively rare, it holds a connection to the rich cultural heritage and histories of various Native American tribes, serving as a reminder of the diverse linguistic and cultural traditions that have shaped the tapestry of America.
People
Keegun + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Keegun 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
Keegun: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Keegun?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Keegun 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 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Keegun a common name?
We classify Keegun as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Keegun most popular?
The single biggest year for Keegun was 2008, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Keegun 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 Keegun in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Keegun a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Keegun 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 Keegun still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Keegun 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 Keegun 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 common is the name Keegun?
See how many Americans are named Keegun on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.