NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Keaten

Keaten is an Irish name meaning "descendant of the fiery one".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2008. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Keaten is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Keaten popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2008 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4432, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 5 births.

This profile covers 17 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2001 to 2008. 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 17 living people in the UK are called Keaten. 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 2009 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Keaten ranked #4432 for boys in England and Wales in 2008, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2007, when 5 boys were registered as Keaten.
  • About 17 living people in the UK are estimated to have Keaten as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4432

2008

Births in 2008

3

Latest year

Peak year

2007

5 births

Estimated living

17

2026

Meaning

What does Keaten mean?

The name Keaten is a modern English variant of the Irish name Cathan, which traces its origins to the Gaelic Celtic languages. Cathan is derived from the Old Irish word "cath," meaning "battle" or "warrior." The name likely emerged during the early medieval period when the Gaelic cultures thrived in Ireland and parts of Scotland.

In ancient Irish mythology and folklore, the name Cathan is associated with several legendary figures known for their bravery and prowess in battle. One notable example is Cathan Mor, a mythical warrior-king who is said to have led his people to victory against invading forces in the 5th century.

The earliest recorded use of the name Cathan can be traced back to the 9th century, when it appears in the Annals of Ulster, an ancient chronicle documenting the history of medieval Ireland. Throughout the Middle Ages, the name was particularly popular among the Irish nobility and warrior classes.

One of the most famous historical figures to bear the name Cathan was Cathan O'Conor, a 12th-century King of Connacht, a powerful province in western Ireland. He played a significant role in the political struggles of his time and is renowned for his military campaigns against the Anglo-Norman invaders.

In the 16th century, a notable bearer of the name was Cathan Ó Maoil Chonaire, a renowned Irish poet and scholar who composed works in both Irish and Latin. His poetic works celebrated Irish culture and traditions, and he is considered one of the most influential literary figures of the Gaelic Renaissance.

Another notable figure was Cathan MacMurrough, a 17th-century Irish chieftain and military leader who fought against the English forces during the Confederate Wars of the 1640s. He is remembered for his fierce resistance and his role in defending Irish sovereignty.

As the name evolved over time, variations such as Keaten emerged as anglicized forms, particularly in the English-speaking world. While the name is not as common today as it once was, it remains a significant part of Irish cultural heritage and a reminder of the rich history and traditions of the Gaelic peoples.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Keaten over time

The chart below shows babies named Keaten registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 to 2008. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Keaten, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2008, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Keaten
01345200120042008

Decades

Keaten by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Keaten 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
2000s #3632 17 5

Related

Names similar to Keaten

FAQ

Keaten: questions and answers

How popular is the name Keaten in the UK right now?

In 2008, Keaten was ranked #4432 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Keaten most popular?

The peak year on record was 2007, with 5 babies registered as Keaten in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Keaten?

Keaten is an Irish name meaning "descendant of the fiery one".

How many people are called Keaten in the UK?

A total of 17 babies have been registered as Keaten across the 5 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.