NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Keris

From Indonesian, referring to an asymmetrical dagger or kris knife.

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.

Keris is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Keris popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4063, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 21 births.

This profile covers 185 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1996 to 2017. 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 24% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 259 living people in the UK are called Keris. 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

  • Keris ranked #4063 for girls in England and Wales in 2017, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2008, when 21 girls were registered as Keris.
  • Keris ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #798 in 2016.
  • About 259 living people in the UK are estimated to have Keris as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4063

2017

Births in 2017

5

Latest year

Peak year

2008

21 births

Estimated living

259

2026

Meaning

What does Keris mean?

The name Keris is believed to have its origins in Indonesia, where it refers to a type of asymmetrical dagger or knife that is an important part of traditional Javanese culture. The name likely derives from the Javanese word "keris," which means "dagger" or "kris."

In Javanese culture, the keris dagger is considered a spiritual object and a powerful symbol of masculinity and status. It is often passed down through generations and is believed to possess supernatural powers and a spiritual essence. The design and ornamentation of a keris can vary greatly, with each dagger being unique and reflecting the personality and beliefs of its owner.

The earliest recorded use of the name Keris dates back to the 15th century, during the height of the Majapahit Empire in Java. It is possible that the name was first given to individuals who were skilled in the crafting or wielding of the keris dagger.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Keris was Keris Pamor, a renowned keris maker who lived in the late 15th century. His daggers were highly sought after and were believed to possess powerful spiritual properties.

Another notable figure with the name Keris was Keris Dalem, a 16th-century Javanese ruler who was known for his collection of exquisite keris daggers. It is said that he had a deep appreciation for the cultural and spiritual significance of the keris and would often consult with his favorite daggers before making important decisions.

In the 17th century, there was a famous keris maker named Keris Surakarta, whose daggers were prized by the nobility of the Mataram Sultanate. His works were known for their intricate and detailed designs, which incorporated various symbols and motifs from Javanese mythology.

In the 19th century, Keris Semarang was a renowned keris master who was credited with reviving the traditional techniques of keris making. He trained many apprentices and helped to preserve the cultural heritage of the keris in Java.

Another notable figure with the name Keris was Keris Yogyakarta, a 20th-century keris collector and scholar who wrote extensively on the history and symbolism of the keris dagger. His extensive collection of daggers is now housed in a museum in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Keris over time

The chart below shows babies named Keris registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2017. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Keris, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2017, compared with 21 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Keris
05111621199620062017

Decades

Keris by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Keris 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 #4095 38 7
2000s #1806 122 10
1990s #2573 25 4

Geography

Where Keris is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Keris. 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.

Keris ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #798 in 2016.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Keris in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#798 in 2016

13 years of NRS records, 76 total registered

Related

Names similar to Keris

FAQ

Keris: questions and answers

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

In 2017, Keris was ranked #4063 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Keris most popular?

The peak year on record was 2008, with 21 babies registered as Keris in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Keris?

From Indonesian, referring to an asymmetrical dagger or kris knife.

How many people are called Keris in the UK?

A total of 185 babies have been registered as Keris across the 21 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 76 more in Scotland.

Where is Keris most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Keris ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #798 in 2016. 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.