Keir
Borrowed from Scottish Gaelic ciar (“dark”) or Old Norse [Term?].
Every Keir since 1963 — 1,117 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Keir
Keir is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #10,207 in 2025 with 7 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1963, 1,117 American babies have been named Keir — about 94% boys and 6% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1970, when 74 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1970s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Keir stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Keir year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 7 | #10,207 |
| 2024 | — | — | 13 | #6,652 |
| 2023 | — | — | 17 | #5,575 |
| 2022 | — | — | 20 | #4,938 |
| 2021 | — | — | 17 | #5,457 |
| 2020 | — | — | 12 | #6,834 |
| 2019 | — | — | 12 | #6,992 |
| 2018 | — | — | 11 | #7,388 |
| 2017 | — | — | 12 | #6,910 |
| 2016 | — | — | 5 | #13,262 |
| 2015 | — | — | 21 | #4,627 |
| 2014 | — | — | 16 | #5,599 |
| 2013 | — | — | 15 | #5,808 |
| 2012 | — | — | 10 | #7,855 |
| 2011 | — | — | 13 | #6,426 |
| 2010 | — | — | 5 | #13,335 |
| 2009 | — | — | 10 | #8,014 |
| 2008 | — | — | 16 | #5,639 |
| 2007 | — | — | 7 | #10,364 |
| 2006 | — | — | 19 | #4,783 |
| 2005 | — | — | 16 | #5,163 |
| 2004 | — | — | 12 | #6,342 |
| 2003 | — | — | 16 | #4,933 |
| 2002 | — | — | 10 | #6,810 |
| 2001 | — | — | 12 | #5,859 |
| 2000 | — | — | 15 | #4,924 |
| 1995 | — | — | 16 | #3,967 |
| 1990 | — | — | 25 | #2,662 |
| 1985 | — | — | 20 | #2,555 |
| 1980 | — | — | 12 | #3,514 |
| 1975 | — | — | 20 | #2,256 |
| 1970 | 11 | #4,897 | 63 | #1,028 |
| 1965 | — | — | 6 | #3,726 |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Keir
- Keir Dullea Actor · b. 1936
- Keir Starmer Politician · b. 1962
- Keir Hardie Politician · 1856–1915
- Keir Gilchrist Actor · b. 1992
- Keir O'Donnell Actor · b. 1978
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Keir mean?
Borrowed from Scottish Gaelic ciar (“dark”) or Old Norse [Term?].
How popular is the name Keir in 2025?
Keir ranked #10,207 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 7 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Keir?
1,117 babies have been named Keir in the United States since 1963, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Keir most popular?
Keir peaked in 1970, when 74 newborns received the name.
Is Keir a boy or girl name?
Keir is used for both: about 6% of babies named Keir have been girls and 94% boys.
Is the name Keir rising or falling?
Keir is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Keir?
Well-known people named Keir include Keir Dullea (actor), Keir Starmer (politician), Keir Hardie (politician).