Keegan is an Irish surname turned given name, derived from the Irish surname Ó Seanáin, which means "descendant of Seanán." The personal name Seanán is a diminutive form of the name Seán, meaning "old," "wise," or "God is gracious." Thus, Keegan can be translated to mean "littleSean" or "small Sean."
The Ó Seanáin clan was part of the Uí Fiachrach dynasty and originated from County Mayo in Ireland. Over time, Keegan became more commonly used as a given name rather than a surname. In some cases, Keegan may also have been influenced by the English given name Kevin, which shares a similar sound.
Keegan is not widely documented throughout history, but it has appeared occasionally in various contexts. One notable example is Keegan de Lacy, an Irish soldier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for North Kerry from 1874 to 1875.
Today, Keegan is typically considered a male given name but can also be used for females. It gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the late 20th century and early 21st century. In some cultures, it may have different associations or interpretations due to its Irish origins and unique sound.
"Keegan saw a significant rise in popularity from the late 1980s to its peak in the early 2000s, with births jumping from 214 in 1988 to a high of 1707 in 2007. However, it has since declined steadily, reaching 441 births in 2023."