Meaning: Its source is an Ancient Celtic expression meaning "Forest."

Popularity: The name Kieth ranked 898th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name appears on the 1990 U.S. Census lists, it is used by only a small percentage of the general population.

Narrative: Keith is the name of a Scottish clan of great antiquity. Tragically, the Keiths joined their fate to the deposed royal house of Stuart, losing both wealth and status in the Jacobite rebellions that unsuccessfully attempted to win the British crown for ''Bonny Price Charlie.''

As a personal name, Keith was strongly identified with Scotland for hundreds of years. However, like Kenneth (another Scots name), it began to spread throughout the English-speaking world at the end of the 19th century.

It is a name remarkably resistant to re-spelling, though Keath may be encountered on rare occasions.