Keagan is an Irish surname that has been increasingly used as a given name, particularly in English-speaking countries like Ireland, England, and North America. It's derived from the Irish sept name Ó Caoimhín, which means 'descendant of Caoimhín'. Caoimhín itself comes from the Irish elements 'caomh' meaning gentle or noble, and 'ín', a diminutive suffix. Therefore, Keagan can be interpreted as 'small gentle one'.
The popularity of Keagan as a given name has risen in recent years, likely due to its unique sound and its association with the popular Irish boy's name Cian (pronounced Kee-an). It offers an alternative spelling option for parents who might prefer a more distinctive name but want something similar to established favorites like Kian or Cian.
The name Keagan typically follows the phonetic pronunciation /ˈkiː.ɡən/. The first syllable is stressed, and it rhymes with 'bee'. It has two syllables, with the stress falling on the first syllable.
In terms of usage, Keagan is more commonly found among English speakers of Irish descent or those who appreciate Irish names. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, Keagan was not among the top 1000 most popular boys' names between 2006 and 2020. However, it has appeared occasionally on birth records in recent years, suggesting that while it's not mainstream, it is still used to some extent.
Overall, Keagan is an Irish surname-turned-given-name with a gentle meaning and unique pronunciation. Its usage as a given name appears to be increasing slowly but steadily among English speakers, particularly those of Irish descent or with an interest in Irish names.
The name Keagan has seen a significant rise in popularity over the years, with a substantial increase in births from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s. The peak year for Keagan births was 2007, with an impressive total of 104 babies named Keagan born that year. However, since then, the popularity has steadily declined, with only 28 births in 2022 and 29 in 2023, marking a significant decrease from its peak. Overall, there have been a total of 1692 births for the name Keagan from 1980 to 2023.