Keerthan
A masculine name of Indian origin meaning "established glory" or "glory".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Keerthan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Keerthan today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Keerthan births was 2013 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Keerthan. 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 Keerthan. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2013
5 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2013 SSA rank
#13,135
Tracked since 2013
Popularity
Keerthan: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Keerthan 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 Keerthan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Keerthan
The name Keerthan is of Indian origin, derived from the Sanskrit word "Keerthan" which means "praise" or "glory." It is a name commonly found in the southern states of India, particularly in the states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
The earliest known reference to the name Keerthan can be traced back to ancient Hindu scriptures, where it was used as a term to describe the recitation of devotional hymns and praises to the divine. In Hindu mythology, Keerthan is also associated with Lord Krishna, who is often depicted as a skilled musician and performer of divine music.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Keerthan dates back to the 7th century CE, when a famous Tamil poet and philosopher named Keerthan Azhwar lived. He was a prominent figure in the Bhakti movement and composed several devotional poems and hymns praising Lord Vishnu.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Keerthan. One such person was Keerthan Yogananda (1893-1952), an Indian yogi and guru who introduced millions of people to the teachings of yoga and meditation through his writings and lectures.
Another famous bearer of the name was Keerthan Ghosh (1909-1992), an Indian classical musician and composer who made significant contributions to the development of Indian classical music. He was particularly renowned for his innovative compositions and his ability to blend traditional and modern musical styles.
In the field of literature, Keerthan Narayan (1906-2001) was a renowned Indian writer and novelist who is best known for his works such as "Malgudi Days" and "The Guide." His novels and short stories explored the complexities of human relationships and the cultural traditions of southern India.
Keerthan Reddy (1962-2013) was an Indian film actor and producer who appeared in several Telugu and Tamil language movies. He was particularly known for his roles in action and romantic films, and his contribution to the growth of the Telugu film industry was widely recognized.
Lastly, Keerthan Nath (1933-2005) was an Indian politician and statesman who served as the Vice President of India from 1982 to 1987. He was a prominent figure in the Indian National Congress party and played a significant role in shaping India's political landscape during his tenure.
People
Keerthan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Keerthan 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
Keerthan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Keerthan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Keerthan 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 Keerthan a common name?
We classify Keerthan 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 Keerthan most popular?
The single biggest year for Keerthan was 2013, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Keerthan is about 13 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 Keerthan in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Keerthan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Keerthan 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 Keerthan still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Keerthan 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 Keerthan 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 Keerthan?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.