UK boy's name
Keighan
A masculine name of Irish origin meaning "intelligent" or "bright".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2001. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Keighan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Keighan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2001 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2587, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 4 births.
This profile covers 4 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2001 to 2001. 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.
Keighan is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 10 living people in the UK are called Keighan. 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 2002 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Keighan ranked #2587 for boys in England and Wales in 2001, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 4 boys were registered as Keighan.
- • Keighan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #733 in 2017.
- • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Keighan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2587
2001
Births in 2001
4
Latest year
Peak year
2001
4 births
Estimated living
10
2026
Meaning
What does Keighan mean?
The name Keighan is a unique and intriguing one, with roots that can be traced back to the ancient Celtic languages of the British Isles. Its origins lie in the Gaelic tongues of Ireland and Scotland, where it was likely derived from the Old Irish word "cian," meaning "ancient" or "distant."
In the early medieval period, the name may have been used as a descriptive nickname for someone who had traveled great distances or was considered wise and experienced beyond their years. Alternatively, it could have been bestowed upon a child born to parents of advanced age, signifying their arrival after a long wait.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In the entry for the year 1021, a certain "Cian mac Maic Niadh" is mentioned, though it is unclear whether this was a personal name or a surname.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Keighan or its various spellings. In the 16th century, Keighan O'Rourke (c. 1550-1602) was a renowned Irish harper and composer who served at the court of the O'Neill dynasty in Ulster. His compositions and playing style were highly influential in preserving the traditions of Irish harp music.
Another Keighan of note was Keighan MacLean (c. 1690-1756), a Scottish warrior and clan chief who led his men in several battles during the Jacobite risings of the 18th century. He is remembered for his bravery and loyalty to the Stuart cause.
In more recent times, Keighan O'Doherty (1906-1979) was an Irish politician and member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament. He represented County Donegal and was a prominent voice for rural and agricultural interests.
Finally, Keighan Donner (1945-2021) was an American chess grandmaster and author, known for his aggressive and uncompromising playing style. He won numerous tournaments throughout his career and was a influential figure in the world of competitive chess.
While the name Keighan is relatively uncommon today, its rich historical roots and associations with figures from Ireland, Scotland, and beyond lend it a sense of heritage and cultural significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Keighan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Keighan 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 | #2587 | 4 | 1 |
Geography
Where Keighan is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Keighan. 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.
Keighan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #733 in 2017.
Across the UK
Keighan in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#733 in 2017
2 years of NRS records, 6 total registered
Related
Names similar to Keighan
- 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
Keighan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Keighan in the UK right now?
In 2001, Keighan was ranked #2587 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Keighan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 4 babies registered as Keighan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Keighan?
A masculine name of Irish origin meaning "intelligent" or "bright".
How many people are called Keighan in the UK?
A total of 4 babies have been registered as Keighan across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 6 more in Scotland.
Where is Keighan most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Keighan ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #733 in 2017. 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.