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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Thoughts on Keegan for a boy?

79 replies

mozork1 · 21/01/2026 11:26

The name Keegan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic surname Mac Aodhagáin, meaning "son of Aodhagán," where Aodhagán is a diminutive of Aodh, meaning "fire" or "fiery one," often interpreted as "small flame" or "descendant of the fiery one," suggesting a spirited personality.

Origin: Irish.

Meaning: "Son of Aodhagán," stemming from Aodh ("fire"), leading to "small flame" or "fiery one".

Symbolism: Warmth, passion, and a bright, energetic spirit.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Bonkers1966 · 21/01/2026 15:36

100 percent Irish woman here
Never heard of it other than as a surname. I don't think the child will thank you later.

canuckup · 21/01/2026 15:33

Meh

Herriota · 21/01/2026 15:01

Kieran has 1970 working class kid vibes.

Not in Ireland it doesn’t! Middle-aged man vibes maybe but that’s it.

OP hasn’t said where she is.

Knowsley · 21/01/2026 14:54

AgentPidge · 21/01/2026 14:29

It is.

Show quote history

Kieran has 1970 working class kid vibes. At least it doesn't have 1970s footballer vibes.

ilovepixie · 21/01/2026 14:51

I’d want to call him Kevin. I worked with a fella called Willis and I kept wanting to call him Wincy 😂😂

AgentPidge · 21/01/2026 14:29

Whizzywhisk · 21/01/2026 12:49

Kieran is nicer

It is.

HundredsandHundreds · 21/01/2026 14:15

If you wouldn’t name your baby Smith, Brown or Singh as a first name, don’t call them Keegan.

JollyGreenSnake · 21/01/2026 14:11

You could choose Caelan if you're looking for an Irish boys name with that type of sound?
I don't like Keegan as a first name.

Knowsley · 21/01/2026 13:50

Feast your eyes on this:

Artsybaby · 21/01/2026 13:12

I like it

ginasevern · 21/01/2026 13:12

DaisyChain505 · 21/01/2026 12:21

I know I’ll get flamed but it’s Chavvy and lower class from where I’m from. Along the lines of Jayden, Kayden, Kai etc.

Agree.

Whizzywhisk · 21/01/2026 12:49

Kieran is nicer

Rapidsrunners · 21/01/2026 12:44

I like the name as a first name, especially if it goes well with the surname, but people love to shorten so maybe he would get Kee, which is fine, easy, short, typical of diminutive names.
If you lived in the US Keegan is considered very much a unisex name, accepted as a feminine name as well.
I've found that in much of the US, surnames are very popular as first names, not so popular as such here.

DaisyChain505 · 21/01/2026 12:21

I know I’ll get flamed but it’s Chavvy and lower class from where I’m from. Along the lines of Jayden, Kayden, Kai etc.

Koolandorthegang · 21/01/2026 12:18

Herriota · 21/01/2026 12:13

Caoilfhionn is a girl’s name though!

ETA Keelan is sometimes used for boys, but it depends a bit on where you live in Ireland. That’s because it comes from Caolán and the pronunciation of that varies depending on the Irish dialect.

Edited

Sorry! I thought we were naming a girl

Herriota · 21/01/2026 12:13

Caoilfhionn is a girl’s name though!

ETA Keelan is sometimes used for boys, but it depends a bit on where you live in Ireland. That’s because it comes from Caolán and the pronunciation of that varies depending on the Irish dialect.

Koolandorthegang · 21/01/2026 12:10

Are you Irish or living in Ireland? How about Caoilfhoinn? It might look complicated to a non Irish person but it’s pronounced Kee-lin

Herriota · 21/01/2026 12:08

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

It’s an anglicisation. OP explained the connection.

Ducksbehindthesofa · 21/01/2026 12:04

It's not a name I'd choose. It sounds like he might have a distant cousin called Chardonnay or similar!

Needmorelego · 21/01/2026 12:04

I used to know a Keegan years ago.
He'd be in his 40s or 50s now
He apparently was named after Kevin Keegan but his mum didn't like the name Kevin 😂
It's an ok name.

TheToteBagLady · 21/01/2026 11:51

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Herriota · 21/01/2026 11:50

AgentPidge · 21/01/2026 11:30

Are you in Ireland? If so, is it used there as a forename? I've only heard of one, in the US.

Personally I'm not keen on most surname names. But why should you care what I think? I like Gabriel and Sebastian ;)

It’s been used a little, in recent years only. I don’t know any.
It’s still a surname to me and to most Irish people I’d say.

MotorbikeStuntRider · 21/01/2026 11:44

Kevin.

There's also a darts player - Keegan 'the needle' Brown - named after Kevin.

It's akin to naming a child Rooney or Le Tissier.

houseofchaosandclothes · 21/01/2026 11:43

It’s an Irish surname, not a first name. So I’d find it a bit strange. I don’t think it has a great sound but it’s a bit like a lot of American surnames as names, I’d mentally put it in the same category as something like Cooper

Missj25 · 21/01/2026 11:41