Keitric
A derivation of the name Keithric with Gaelic origins meaning "comely stranger".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Keitric. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Keitric today is around 45 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Keitric births was 1978 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Keitric. 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 Keitric. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1978
5 babies that year
Average age
45
years old
1978 SSA rank
#6,306
Tracked since 1978
Popularity
Keitric: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Keitric 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 Keitric during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Keitric
The name Keitric is an intriguing one, with roots that can be traced back to ancient Celtic cultures. Its origins lie in the Gaulish language, spoken by the continental Celtic tribes of ancient Gaul (modern-day France, Belgium, and parts of Switzerland). The name is believed to have been derived from the Proto-Celtic root *keit, meaning "forest" or "woodland."
In the early medieval period, the name Keitric emerged as a personal name among the Britons, the Celtic inhabitants of what is now Great Britain. It was particularly prevalent in the regions of Wales and Cornwall, where Celtic culture and language remained deeply ingrained. The name likely held symbolic significance, evoking a connection to the natural world and the sacred groves that played a vital role in Celtic spirituality.
While no specific historical figures from ancient times bear the name Keitric, its linguistic roots can be traced through various inscriptions and texts from the Celtic world. The name's earliest recorded usage dates back to the 6th century CE, when it appeared in the Welsh genealogical tract known as the "Harleian Genealogies."
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Keitric remained in use, particularly among the Welsh nobility. One notable figure bearing this name was Keitric ap Rhys (born circa 1070), a Welsh prince and heir to the Kingdom of Deheubarth in southern Wales. He played a significant role in the political struggles of his time, forging alliances and defending his territories against Norman incursions.
Another prominent individual with the name Keitric was a 12th-century Cornish cleric and scholar, Keitric of Bodmin (c. 1120-1190). He served as the Dean of Bodmin and was renowned for his extensive knowledge of Celtic literature and history, contributing to the preservation of Cornish culture and language during a period of Norman dominance.
In the 13th century, Keitric ap Gruffudd (c. 1210-1270) was a Welsh nobleman and military leader who fought against the English during the Welsh Wars of Independence. He was a staunch supporter of the Welsh prince Llywelyn ap Gruffudd and played a crucial role in the Battle of Bryn Derwin in 1265.
Moving forward in time, Keitric Vaughan (1587-1641) was a Welsh poet and clergyman who gained recognition for his poetic works in the Welsh language. His poems celebrated Welsh culture and identity, contributing to the literary renaissance of the 17th century.
While the name Keitric has largely fallen out of common usage in modern times, it remains a fascinating link to the rich cultural heritage of the Celtic peoples. Its ancient roots and associations with the natural world and sacred groves make it a unique and evocative name, offering a glimpse into the beliefs and traditions of a bygone era.
People
Keitric + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Keitric 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
Keitric: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Keitric?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Keitric 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 Keitric a common name?
We classify Keitric 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 Keitric most popular?
The single biggest year for Keitric was 1978, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Keitric is about 45 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 Keitric in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Keitric a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Keitric 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 Keitric still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Keitric 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 Keitric 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 Keitric?
See how many people share the name Keitric on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.