UK boy's name
Keil
A variant of the German name Karl, meaning manly or strong.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2005. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Keil is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Keil popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2005 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3849, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 4 births.
This profile covers 14 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 1996 to 2005. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 14 living people in the UK are called Keil. 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 2006 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Keil ranked #3849 for boys in England and Wales in 2005, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1999, when 4 boys were registered as Keil.
- • About 14 living people in the UK are estimated to have Keil as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3849
2005
Births in 2005
3
Latest year
Peak year
1999
4 births
Estimated living
14
2026
Meaning
What does Keil mean?
The name Keil has its origins in the Germanic languages, specifically German and Dutch. It is believed to have derived from the Old High German word "kil," which means "wedge" or "peg." This name likely originated in the early medieval period, around the 5th to 8th centuries, when the Germanic tribes occupied large parts of central and western Europe.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Keil can be found in the 9th century. The Carolingian monk and scholar Remigius of Auxerre, who lived from around 841 to 908 AD, is known to have used the name Keil in his writings, although it is unclear whether this was a personal name or a reference to the word's original meaning.
In the 11th century, the name Keil appears in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from the Kingdom of Saxony. This document mentions a man named Keil von Erfurt, who lived in the city of Erfurt in present-day Germany.
During the 12th century, a German knight named Keil von Trier, born around 1120, gained renown for his participation in the Second Crusade. He is mentioned in various chronicles of the time, including the Gesta Frederici Imperatoris by Otto of Freising.
In the 14th century, a Dutch scholar and theologian named Keil van Utrecht, born around 1320, authored several influential works on theology and philosophy. He is considered one of the foremost intellectuals of his time in the Low Countries.
Another notable figure with the name Keil was the German Protestant theologian and Orientalist Carl Friedrich Keil, who lived from 1807 to 1888. He is best known for his multi-volume commentary on the Old Testament, which was widely used in theological circles throughout the 19th century.
While the name Keil has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, it has persisted in various Germanic-speaking regions, particularly in Germany and the Netherlands. Its origins can be traced back to the early medieval period, and it has been borne by notable individuals in various fields, including religion, scholarship, and military service.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Keil over time
The chart below shows babies named Keil registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2005. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Keil, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2005, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Keil by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Keil 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 | #3243 | 7 | 2 |
| 1990s | #2644 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Keil
- 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
Keil: questions and answers
How popular is the name Keil in the UK right now?
In 2005, Keil was ranked #3849 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Keil most popular?
The peak year on record was 1999, with 4 babies registered as Keil in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Keil?
A variant of the German name Karl, meaning manly or strong.
How many people are called Keil in the UK?
A total of 14 babies have been registered as Keil across the 4 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.