Kegan Boy

Popularity: #922 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KEE-gun //ˈkiːɡən//

Origin: Irish; Gaelic

Meaning: Irish: 'descendant of Aodhagán'; Gaelic: 'little fire'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Kegan has its roots in the Irish language, deriving from the Gaelic name "Caoinn" or "Caoin" which means "gentle" or "beautiful." The name evolved through various forms, with the anglicized version appearing as "Kegan" in the English-speaking world. The transition from Gaelic to English often involved phonetic adaptations, leading to the modern spelling that is used today.

The name reflects a common practice in Irish naming conventions where names often carry meanings related to positive attributes or characteristics. Historically, the name Kegan is linked to the broader tradition of Gaelic names in Ireland, which have been documented since at least the early medieval period.

The use of such names became more widespread with the establishment of Christianity in Ireland, where many Gaelic names were adopted by saints or associated with notable figures. While Kegan itself may not be directly associated with any specific historical figure, it shares a cultural lineage with other Gaelic names that have been borne by prominent individuals throughout Irish history.

Culturally, the name Kegan resonates with themes of gentleness and beauty, which are valued traits in many societies. The enduring nature of names like Kegan can be attributed to their connection to familial and cultural heritage, often passed down through generations.

Additionally, diminutive forms such as "Keg" may have emerged informally, reflecting a common practice in many cultures to create affectionate or familiar variations of names. Overall, Kegan embodies a rich linguistic and cultural history that reflects the values and traditions of its Irish origins.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Kegan, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Kegan. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Kegan was first seen in the United States in 1970.

Kegan has ranked as high as #1713 nationally, which occurred in 1992, and has been most popular in Michigan, Texas, Indiana, California, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Kegan has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Kegan is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Kegan was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Kegan.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 16 16 0
2024 24 24 0
2023 15 15 0
2022 26 26 0
2021 18 18 0
2020 33 33 0
2019 31 31 0
2018 44 44 0
2017 40 35 5
2016 49 49 0
2015 64 56 8
2014 64 64 0
2013 82 82 0
2012 87 82 5
2011 140 127 13
2010 116 110 6
2009 126 118 8
2008 128 122 6
2007 165 157 8
2006 139 134 5
2005 94 94 0
2004 120 120 0
2003 111 105 6
2002 145 145 0
2001 110 100 10
2000 119 111 8
1999 100 90 10
1998 135 126 9
1997 123 115 8
1996 124 112 12
1995 148 137 11
1994 153 146 7
1993 187 174 13
1992 190 175 15
1991 161 154 7
1990 137 126 11
1989 134 127 7
1988 94 89 5
1987 105 91 14
1986 63 58 5
1985 12 12 0
1984 20 11 9
1983 15 15 0
1982 18 12 6
1981 14 14 0
1980 6 6 0
1979 10 10 0
1978 6 6 0
1977 8 8 0
1975 5 5 0
1973 5 5 0
1970 6 6 0

Top States for Kegan (2022)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 5
100%