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Baby names

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Original poster

Names dedicated to Keith, that aren't Keith

78 replies

kitsilano19 · 20/08/2021 16:43

I want to decide on a baby boy name that honours my Dad who I lost at the start of this year. His name is Keith, but I am not a huge fan of Keith for a baby in 2021... Any ideas on a similar sounding name that still honours him but is a bit more modern?

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Saltpepperbutter · 04/11/2021 18:20

Just use Keith. I know a two year old Keith.

NB it’s not Keifer. It’s Kiefer.

SallyWD · 04/11/2021 16:56

I feel the best tribute is to use the name Keith as a middle name. No one ever uses their middle name so it's fine. I gave my daughter my mum's middle name which is very old fashioned (and not in a cool, vintage way!) but I'm so happy my daughter will always have my mum's name.

Enko · 31/10/2021 09:58

I actually really like Keith bhelps for me the ones I have known have been lovely men.

I also like Colin

NadiaVulvokov · 29/10/2021 14:15

Rufus.

The town of Keith in Scotland was originally known as "Kethmalruff", a dedication to Saint Maol Rubha (d. 722), also Latinised as "St Rufus”.

The church there is called St Rufus.

TerribleCustomerCervix · 29/10/2021 14:00

Ah it’s a middle name- just use Keith.

I pondered for ages about both dc’s middle names and people are right when they point out how rarely they’re used.

When filling out forms I usually have to pause for a millisecond to recollect what each of them are!

CoffeeWithCheese · 29/10/2021 13:49

I had similar with my nan - wanted to use her name for DD2 - but she always hated her first name, and it had gone through a phase of popularity when Friends was around. So we used her middle name as DD's middle name instead.

BeKindBeYou · 29/10/2021 13:39

Kenneth?

gluenotsoup · 29/10/2021 13:32

Kit

starrynight21 · 29/10/2021 13:15

If you want to honour someone, use their name. You can't honour him by using some other name , it doesn't make any sense.

ThatsNotMyReindeer · 29/10/2021 13:04

Names go in cycles. We're on grandad/grandma currently. Lots of little baby Arthurs and Alberts and Ediths and Ivys and what not.

Call him Keith, he'll be ahead of the trend. The next generation of kids will be named after their grandparents- Keiths, Ians, Sharons, Tracy's

PeriChristmas · 29/10/2021 12:58

Forrest.

00100001 · 29/10/2021 12:56

@Welcometotheterrorzone

I disagree. I think a name that is a nod to another name is fine. The main thing is that when you hear the name is reminds you of their namesake. It doesn't matter that it's not the actual name.
There's one thing if your beloved Nana was called Rosemary, and you name your DD Rosie... Or you Papa was called Dennis and you use Denise...

But to go 'my Papa was called Charles. I want to honour him, but don't want to use Charles, Charlie or Chuck. So shall I use Frank because they mean the same thing...kinda'

Cranncat · 29/10/2021 12:54

My friend Keith (who is in his early 50s and loathes his name, incidentally -- he describes it as the ultimate 'wet lettuce' name) was named that 'in honour of his father, who was a Kenneth who didn't like his name either, and insisted his son be called something else, but this was clearly viewed as a 'tribute' name by both parents. No, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me, either.

ElephantOfRisk · 29/10/2021 12:49

I reckon Keith is very much due a comeback. Use it as is for first or middle, I wouldn't pee about with similar but different.

I mean look at when Simon Cowell called his son Eric and everyone was Hmm and now it just seems a perfectly acceptable name for a child.

MeredithGreyishblue · 28/10/2021 17:03

Same as @ChirpyChirp DS1 has his grandad's surname as his middle name.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 28/10/2021 16:56

Agree with everyone who says the best/clearest way to honour him is to use it as a middle name. Few people outside of close family know what peoples middle names are anyway - so it's really unlikely he'd get any comments about having a dated/"old man" middle name.

I could understand if it was a girl (trying to find a different but similar enough name) but for a boy Keith's absolutely fine. I know several younger boys (in my own family) with similarly dated middle names to honour relatives - Alan, Brian etc and it's never been an issue for them.

Classica · 28/10/2021 15:34

Keith will make a fine middle name for your son. I like an unfashionable middle name as it's clearly in honour of a much loved relative.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Babynametalking · 28/10/2021 15:06

Hi, my father in law is also Keith, we've chosen Brysen Ernest William for our sons name. Naming of my husband but updated and his grandfather's names. But I was just thinking what about a modem update of Keith couldn't think of any but seen someone suggest heath I like that name think it's a good one for a modern update

Foxmylife · 21/08/2021 18:40

@HelenaJustina

Keith is really growing on me, Kit could be a cute nn.
Love this. Please dont use another name as you don’t like Keith, its so disrespectful.
LivingLaVidaBabyShower · 21/08/2021 18:36

Quiche? Grin

Ellmau · 21/08/2021 18:33

Kit feels more modern.

Katefoster · 21/08/2021 10:57

Check out baby name envy she gets a lot of questions like this. She has an insta/YouTube and podcast it's really good for dilemmas like this!

manhattenrain · 21/08/2021 10:54

I love the idea of Forest!
Maybe you could do the same Initials?
Eg. If his name was Keith Anthony, you could do something like Kaleb Asher or Kyle Archie.

Seth - could also work as it ends in th and is one syllable.

TatianaBis · 21/08/2021 10:36

I don’t agree, my DD has a variant on my mum’s name as a middle name - that was my mum’s choice.

ShippingNews · 21/08/2021 10:28

Either use Keith or forget it. Surely if you want to "honour" someone you can't then use some other name . To me that's actually insulting them - I wanted to honour your name but I don't like your name.