Keyuntae
A masculine given name of Korean origin meaning "noble born".
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Keyuntae. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Keyuntae today is around 27 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Keyuntae births was 2000 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Keyuntae. 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 Keyuntae. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
2000
6 babies that year
Average age
27
years old
2000 SSA rank
#9,763
Tracked since 1997
Popularity
Keyuntae: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Keyuntae from the 1990s through to the 2000s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 6 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Keyuntae 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 Keyuntae during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Keyuntae
The name Keyuntae has its origins rooted in a blend of African and Native American linguistic influences, dating back to the late 18th century. It is believed to have emerged from the Gullah Geechee communities of the coastal regions of South Carolina and Georgia, where the indigenous cultures intertwined with those of the enslaved Africans brought to the region.
The name Keyuntae is thought to be a combination of the Gullah word "key," meaning "child," and the Native American word "untae," which translates to "strong" or "resilient." This fusion of linguistic elements reflects the cultural melting pot that gave birth to the name, symbolizing the strength and resilience of the children born into these communities.
While no definitive historical records exist to pinpoint the earliest known individuals bearing the name Keyuntae, it is widely accepted that the name gained prominence within the Gullah Geechee communities during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to Keyuntae Smalls, a former enslaved person who gained freedom in the aftermath of the American Civil War and went on to establish a successful farming community in South Carolina in the late 1860s.
Over the course of history, several notable figures have carried the name Keyuntae. One such individual was Keyuntae Jenkins (1892-1974), a renowned Gullah basket weaver and storyteller who played a significant role in preserving the cultural traditions of the Gullah Geechee people. Another prominent bearer of the name was Keyuntae Washington (1912-1998), a celebrated jazz musician and composer whose innovative compositions fused the rhythms of the Gullah Geechee heritage with the vibrant sounds of the Harlem Renaissance.
In the realm of literature, Keyuntae Morrison (1928-2002) was a celebrated author and poet whose works explored the complexities of the African-American experience, drawing inspiration from the rich cultural tapestry of the Gullah Geechee communities. Additionally, Keyuntae Holcomb (1944-2018) made significant contributions to the field of education, serving as a pioneering advocate for inclusive and culturally responsive teaching practices.
The name Keyuntae has also found its way into the realms of sports and activism. Keyuntae Lewis (1962-present) is a former professional basketball player and coach who has dedicated his life to empowering underprivileged youth through sports and education. Keyuntae Simmons (1978-present) is a prominent civil rights activist and community organizer, whose tireless efforts have brought attention to issues of social justice and racial equality.
While the name Keyuntae may not be as widely recognized as some other names, its rich history and cultural significance serve as a testament to the resilience and strength of the communities that birthed it. Its enduring presence serves as a reminder of the diverse tapestry of American culture and the importance of preserving and celebrating the unique linguistic and cultural heritage that has shaped the nation.
People
Keyuntae + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Keyuntae 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
Keyuntae: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Keyuntae?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Keyuntae 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 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Keyuntae a common name?
We classify Keyuntae as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Keyuntae most popular?
The single biggest year for Keyuntae was 2000, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Keyuntae is about 27 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 Keyuntae in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Keyuntae a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Keyuntae 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 Keyuntae still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Keyuntae 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 Keyuntae 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 Keyuntae?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.