UK boy's name
Keanan
An Irish name meaning "born of fire", often associated with valor or passion.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Keanan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Keanan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 38 births.
This profile covers 219 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 8% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 217 living people in the UK are called Keanan. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Keanan ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 38 boys were registered as Keanan.
- • About 217 living people in the UK are estimated to have Keanan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4991
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
1998
38 births
Estimated living
217
2026
Meaning
What does Keanan mean?
The given name Keanan is of Irish Gaelic origin, derived from the word "caonán" which means "little pathfinder" or "little fighter." This name has been in use since ancient times in Ireland, particularly in the regions of Munster and Connacht.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Keanan can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history dating back to the 15th century. The name is mentioned in an entry from the year 1432, referring to a man named Keanan Ó Néill, a member of the influential Ó Néill dynasty that ruled parts of Ulster.
In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name Keanan was Keanan O'Hara, a renowned Irish poet and bard who lived during the reign of Hugh O'Neill, the Earl of Tyrone. O'Hara's works, which celebrated the exploits of the O'Neill clan, are among the earliest examples of Irish literature in the modern era.
Another historical figure with the name Keanan was Keanan Deane, an Irish soldier who fought in the Confederate Wars of the mid-17th century. Deane, a staunch Catholic, served in the Irish Confederate forces during the Irish Confederate Wars against the English Parliamentary forces.
In the 18th century, Keanan O'Rourke was a prominent Irish rebel and leader of the Defenders, a Catholic agrarian secret society that fought against the oppressive Penal Laws imposed on Irish Catholics by the British government. O'Rourke played a significant role in the Irish Rebellion of 1798.
One of the most famous bearers of the name Keanan in modern times was Keanan Duffty, an acclaimed Irish author and playwright born in 1902 in County Mayo. Duffty's works, which often explored themes of Irish identity and nationalism, earned him widespread critical acclaim and several literary awards.
While the name Keanan has its roots in ancient Irish history, it continues to be used as a given name in various parts of the world, particularly in Ireland and among the Irish diaspora. The name's unique meaning and rich cultural heritage have contributed to its enduring appeal.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Keanan over time
The chart below shows babies named Keanan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Keanan, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 38 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Keanan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Keanan was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4991 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #3780 | 13 | 3 |
| 2000s | #1772 | 125 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1266 | 78 | 4 |
Notable bearers
Famous people named Keanan
-
Keanan Brand
rugby league player
English professional rugby league footballer
1999-
-
Keanan Bennetts
association football player
English association football player (born 1999)
1999-
-
Keanan Duffty
fashion designer
British singer and fashion designer
1964-
Related
Names similar to Keanan
- Kieran 30,429
- Kyle 28,463
- Kai 24,432
- Kian 17,666
- Kayden 8,305
- Kevin 7,927
- Kane 7,149
- Kaiden 5,762
- Kieron 4,547
- Kacper 4,366
- Kye 4,012
- Kit 3,529
FAQ
Keanan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Keanan in the UK right now?
In 2023, Keanan was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Keanan most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 38 babies registered as Keanan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Keanan?
An Irish name meaning "born of fire", often associated with valor or passion.
How many people are called Keanan in the UK?
A total of 219 babies have been registered as Keanan across the 18 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.