Keyshawn is a name of African American origin, derived from the names of two African American football players who shared it as their given name: Keyshawn Johnson and Keyshawn Martin. It is believed that the name was created by combining the first half of the name "Kevin" with the second half of the name "Shawn," resulting in a unique and distinctive moniker.
The meaning behind the name Keyshawn is not explicitly clear, as it is considered to be an original creation rather than a traditional African or African American name. However, some people have interpreted it as having the following meanings:
* "Beautiful child" - this interpretation comes from combining the African name "Key" with "Shawn," which means beautiful.
* "Bright and wise" - another interpretation suggests that Keyshawn means bright and wise, possibly derived from the African names "Kai" or "Ki" meaning bright, and "Shawn" meaning wise.
Regardless of its exact meaning, Keyshawn has become a popular name among African American families in recent years, particularly after it was brought into the public eye by professional football players bearing the name. It is often seen as a strong, confident name that reflects the personality of those who bear it.
In terms of history, there is no significant historical figure or event associated with the name Keyshawn. However, its popularity has grown in recent years due to its association with prominent African American athletes such as Keyshawn Johnson and Keyshawn Martin, both of whom played professionally in the National Football League (NFL). This has helped to cement Keyshawn's status as a distinctive and memorable name that continues to be chosen by parents looking for unique and meaningful names for their children.
The name Keyshawn has seen a significant rise and fall in popularity over the past four decades in the United States.
In the early years, from 1983 to 1994, the name was quite rare with only five to eight babies named Keyshawn each year. However, things started to change in the mid-1990s.
From 1995 onwards, there was a marked increase in the number of newborns named Keyshawn. The highest point was reached in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with 37 births in 1995, peaking at 430 births in 2000.
However, this trend did not continue. From 2002 onwards, the number of babies named Keyshawn began to decline steadily, dropping from 307 births that year to just 26 births in 2021.
In total, over the past four decades, there have been 3987 newborns named Keyshawn in the United States. Despite its ups and downs in popularity, this name continues to be used by parents who wish to give their child a unique and memorable moniker.