UK boy's name
Keivan
An Iranian masculine name derived from Persian meaning "the essence or soul of someone".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Keivan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Keivan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4812, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2017 to 2017. 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.
Keivan is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Keivan. 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 2018 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Keivan ranked #4812 for boys in England and Wales in 2017, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 3 boys were registered as Keivan.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Keivan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4812
2017
Births in 2017
3
Latest year
Peak year
2017
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Keivan mean?
The name Keivan has its origins in the Persian language and culture. It is derived from the ancient Persian word "Keihan," which means "universe" or "cosmos." The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to the Sassanid Empire in ancient Persia, which ruled from the 3rd to the 7th century AD.
Keivan was a popular name among the Persian nobility and aristocracy during this period. It was often given to boys born into families of high social standing, reflecting their parents' aspirations for their children to achieve greatness and success on a grand scale, akin to the vastness of the universe itself.
One of the earliest known historical figures to bear the name Keivan was Keivan Shir, a renowned Persian poet and scholar who lived during the 5th century AD. His poetry and writings were highly influential in shaping the literary and intellectual traditions of the time.
In the 9th century, the name Keivan was also associated with a legendary figure in Persian mythology. Keivan Asfandiār was a celebrated warrior and hero who was said to have fought against the forces of evil and injustice. His exploits were chronicled in the epic poem "Shahnameh" by the renowned Persian poet Ferdowsi.
Throughout the centuries, the name Keivan has been borne by numerous influential figures in Persian history and culture. One notable example was Keivan Nāser ol-Molk, a prominent statesman and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of Persia during the late 19th century (1848-1920).
Another famous bearer of the name was Keivan Samimi (1920-2001), a highly acclaimed Iranian film director and screenwriter. His works were instrumental in shaping the golden age of Iranian cinema in the mid-20th century.
In more recent times, Keivan Kazemi (born in 1960) has been a prominent Iranian journalist and human rights activist, known for his work in exposing human rights violations and advocating for freedom of expression in Iran.
While the name Keivan has its roots in Persian culture, it has also gained popularity in other parts of the world, particularly among Iranian diasporas and communities with cultural ties to the region.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Keivan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Keivan 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 | #4812 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Keivan
- 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
Keivan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Keivan in the UK right now?
In 2017, Keivan was ranked #4812 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Keivan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 3 babies registered as Keivan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Keivan?
An Iranian masculine name derived from Persian meaning "the essence or soul of someone".
How many people are called Keivan in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Keivan across the 1 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.