UK boy's name
Kegan
A masculine name of Irish origin referring to a person born prematurely.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kegan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kegan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4001, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 14 births.
This profile covers 154 England and Wales registrations across 24 recorded years from 1996 to 2022. 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 29% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 162 living people in the UK are called Kegan. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kegan ranked #4001 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 14 boys were registered as Kegan.
- • Kegan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #686 in 2015.
- • About 162 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kegan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4001
2022
Births in 2022
4
Latest year
Peak year
2011
14 births
Estimated living
162
2026
Meaning
What does Kegan mean?
The name Kegan originates from the Irish Gaelic language and is derived from the word "caogán," which means "little blind one" or "little squinty one." This suggests that the name was originally a descriptive nickname given to someone with a squint or eye impairment. The name has its roots in Ireland and can be traced back to the medieval period, around the 12th to 15th centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kegan can be found in the Irish Annals, a collection of historical records written by medieval Irish monks. In these annals, the name appears as "Caogán" and is mentioned in reference to various individuals from that era.
The name Kegan has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Kegan O'Reilly, an Irish chieftain who lived in the 16th century and played a role in the Irish Confederate Wars against English rule.
Another significant figure was Kegan Paul (1828-1899), an English publisher and author who co-founded the publishing firm Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co. This company played a crucial role in disseminating literary works during the Victorian era.
In the 20th century, Kegan Vaughan (1904-1956) was a British writer and journalist who authored several books on topics ranging from politics to travel. He is particularly known for his work "The Camouflage Story," which chronicled the development of camouflage techniques during World War II.
More recently, Kegan Schouwiler (born 1966) is an American businesswoman and co-founder of the company SOLS Systems, which specializes in 3D-printed orthotic insoles. She has been recognized for her entrepreneurial endeavors and contributions to the field of personalized healthcare technology.
Another notable figure is Kegan Marsden (born 1982), a South African cricketer who has played for various domestic teams in South Africa and has also represented the national team in several international tournaments.
While the name Kegan is not as common as some other Irish names, it has maintained a presence throughout history, carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions. Its unique origin and meaning have given it a distinctive character that continues to resonate with those who bear this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kegan over time
The chart below shows babies named Kegan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kegan, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2022, compared with 14 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kegan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kegan 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 | #4305 | 7 | 2 |
| 2010s | #3165 | 64 | 9 |
| 2000s | #2350 | 62 | 9 |
| 1990s | #2081 | 21 | 4 |
Geography
Where Kegan is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Kegan. 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.
Kegan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #686 in 2015.
Across the UK
Kegan in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#686 in 2015
3 years of NRS records, 9 total registered
Related
Names similar to Kegan
- 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
Kegan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kegan in the UK right now?
In 2022, Kegan was ranked #4001 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Kegan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 14 babies registered as Kegan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kegan?
A masculine name of Irish origin referring to a person born prematurely.
How many people are called Kegan in the UK?
A total of 154 babies have been registered as Kegan across the 24 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 9 more in Scotland.
Where is Kegan most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Kegan ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #686 in 2015. 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.