# Keith

/ˈkiθ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/keith
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. male name

noun · CEFR A1

a common first name for a man.

For teachers: A masculine given name, originally transferred from a Scottish surname.

- My neighbor Keith is a very friendly man who always helps with the garden.
- Keith Richards is widely regarded as one of the most influential guitarists in the history of rock music.

### 2. family name

noun · CEFR B2

a family name (surname) that comes from Scotland.

For teachers: A surname of Scottish origin, derived from a place name in East Lothian.

- The author's full name is James Keith.
- The Keith clan played a significant role in Scottish history as the hereditary Marischals of Scotland.

## Examples

- My friend Keith lives in London.
- The manager, Keith, will be available to answer your questions after the meeting.
- While the name Keith reached its peak popularity in the mid-twentieth century, it remains a recognizable staple of traditional British and American naming conventions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.