Keywan
A Persian masculine name derived from the name "Key," meaning king.
Name Census estimates that about 51 living Americans carry the first name Keywan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Keywan today is around 25 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Keywan births was 2003 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Keywan. 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 Keywan. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
51
~ 1 in 6,720,673 Americans
Peak year
2003
9 babies that year
Average age
25
years old
2010 SSA rank
#13,365
Tracked since 1991
Popularity
Keywan: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Keywan from the 1990s through to the 2010s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 27 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Keywan 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 Keywan 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 Keywan
The name Keywan has its origins in the Persian language and culture, with roots dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Persian word "keyvan," which means "noble" or "generous." This name was particularly popular among the nobility and aristocracy of ancient Persia, now known as Iran.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Keywan can be found in the Shahnameh, an epic Persian poem written by the renowned poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th and early 11th centuries. In this literary masterpiece, Keywan is portrayed as a legendary hero and a wise king who ruled over Persia with justice and benevolence.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Keywan. One such individual was Keywan Beyk, a prominent military commander and statesman who lived in the 16th century during the Safavid dynasty. He played a crucial role in the expansion and consolidation of the Safavid Empire, and his strategic prowess earned him a reputation as one of the most skilled military leaders of his time.
Another prominent figure with the name Keywan was Keywan Qara Qoyunlu, a influential ruler of the Qara Qoyunlu Turkomans in the 15th century. He established a powerful dynasty that controlled vast territories spanning parts of modern-day Iran, Iraq, and Turkey. His reign was marked by significant cultural and architectural achievements, including the construction of impressive buildings and monuments.
In the realm of literature, the name Keywan is associated with Keywan Kassirai, a renowned Persian poet and scholar who lived in the 11th century. His poetic works, which explored themes of love, spirituality, and human nature, have left an indelible mark on Persian literature and continue to be celebrated and studied to this day.
Moving forward in time, the 20th century saw the rise of Keywan Bayat, an influential Iranian artist and sculptor. His works, which often blended traditional Persian motifs with modern elements, earned him international recognition and acclaim. Bayat's sculptures can be found in numerous public spaces and museums around the world, serving as a testament to his artistic genius.
These are just a few examples of the rich history and notable figures associated with the name Keywan. Throughout the centuries, this name has carried connotations of nobility, wisdom, and cultural significance, reflecting its deep roots in the Persian tradition.
People
Keywan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Keywan 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
Keywan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Keywan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 51 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Keywan 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 6,720,673 US residents.
Is Keywan a common name?
We classify Keywan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 54.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 52 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Keywan most popular?
The single biggest year for Keywan was 2003, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Keywan is about 25 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Keywan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Keywan 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.
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.