Keaghan is a unique and distinctive male given name of Irish origin. Its meaning can be interpreted in several ways depending on the source consulted, but it is generally associated with "fought by spears" or "from the hardy or strong town." The name Keaghan is believed to have been derived from the Irish surname MacAodhagáin, which originated from the ancient Gaelic name Aodhagán. This name is composed of the elements "aodh," meaning fire, and "agan," signifying little or fiery. Therefore, Keaghan could be interpreted as "fiery little one" or "small flame."
The use of the name Keaghan can be traced back to Ireland's medieval period when many Gaelic surnames were being created. It is thought that the MacAodhagáin clan was prominent in County Galway during this time, and it is possible that some members of this family adopted Keaghan as a given name for their sons.
In recent years, Keaghan has gained popularity outside of Ireland, particularly in English-speaking countries like the United States and Australia. Despite its Irish origins and historic ties to the MacAodhagáin clan, Keaghan does not appear to have any specific cultural or religious significance attached to it.
Today, Keaghan remains a rare and unusual name, making it an excellent choice for parents looking for something distinctive for their child. Its unique spelling and pronunciation set it apart from more common names, yet its Irish origins give it a touch of familiarity and heritage. Overall, Keaghan is a strong and memorable name with an interesting history that reflects the rich cultural heritage of Ireland.
Keaghan is a unique and distinctive name that has seen varied popularity over the years in the United States. Here are some interesting statistics about this name:
In 1997, Keaghan was given to just five newborn babies in the U.S., marking its entry into the baby naming scene. The next year saw a slight increase with six births. However, it was not until 2000 that we started to see more Keaghans being born, with twelve children sharing this name.
The trend continued to fluctuate over the years, with peaks in 2002 (thirteen births), 2007 (sixteen births), and two consecutive years in 2008 and 2009 where twenty-three and twenty-seven babies respectively were named Keaghan. This marked a significant increase in popularity for the name.
However, after these peaks, we saw a steady decline, with numbers dropping to fifteen births each in both 2011 and 2012, before rebounding slightly to seventeen in 2013.
The most recent data shows that Keaghan's popularity has continued to fluctuate. There were thirteen births in 2015, followed by a dip to nine in 2017. The last two years have seen five births each, indicating a further decrease in its usage as a baby name in the U.S.
Overall, between 1997 and 2020, there were a total of 304 babies born with the name Keaghan in the United States. Despite not being one of the most popular names during this period, it has maintained a steady presence nonetheless, with its popularity ebbing and flowing over the years.