Keemo
An African name meaning "unique gift".
Name Census estimates that about 7 living Americans carry the first name Keemo. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Keemo today is around 31 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Keemo births was 1994 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Keemo. 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 Keemo. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
7
~ 1 in 48,964,905 Americans
Peak year
1994
7 babies that year
Average age
31
years old
1994 SSA rank
#7,376
Tracked since 1994
Popularity
Keemo: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Keemo 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 Keemo during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Keemo
The name Keemo is believed to have originated from the Swahili language, which is spoken primarily in East Africa. The name is thought to be derived from the Swahili word "kiemo," meaning "plantation" or "farm." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to individuals who worked on or owned plantations or farms in the region.
The earliest recorded use of the name Keemo can be traced back to the 17th century in parts of present-day Kenya and Tanzania. During this time, the region was heavily influenced by Arab and Persian traders, who may have played a role in introducing or popularizing the name.
In the 19th century, a notable figure named Keemo ibn Salim (birth and death years unknown) was a prominent trader and explorer in the region. He is known for his travels across East Africa and his accounts of the various cultures and societies he encountered.
Another historical figure with the name Keemo was Keemo al-Bakri (c. 1850-1920), a Swahili scholar and poet from Zanzibar. He was renowned for his contributions to the preservation and promotion of Swahili literature and culture.
In the early 20th century, Keemo Juma (1895-1972) was a respected Kenyan politician and activist who played a significant role in the fight for independence from British colonial rule. He served as a member of the Legislative Council and was a vocal advocate for the rights of Africans.
Another notable individual with the name Keemo was Keemo Mbogho (1920-1998), a Tanzanian musician and composer. He was celebrated for his innovative fusion of traditional Swahili music with contemporary styles and for his efforts in promoting Tanzanian culture through music.
Despite its origins in East Africa, the name Keemo has since spread to other parts of the world, though its usage remains relatively rare. It is a unique and distinctive name that carries a connection to the rich cultural heritage of the Swahili people and the vibrant history of the region.
People
Keemo + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Keemo 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
Keemo: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Keemo?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 7 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Keemo 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 48,964,905 US residents.
Is Keemo a common name?
We classify Keemo as "Very Rare". It ranks above 23.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 7 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Keemo most popular?
The single biggest year for Keemo was 1994, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Keemo is about 31 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 Keemo in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Keemo a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Keemo 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 Keemo still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Keemo 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 Keemo 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 Keemo as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the name Keemo on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.