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Baby names

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Original poster

Keith?

97 replies

MimiSunshine · 19/08/2018 18:46

Is there an alternative/ shortening for Keith?

My DP is keen to use it to honour a family member of his but I really don’t like it. He’s happy to go with a variation i.e. Jonnie instead of Jonathan or Cate instead of Catherine but that just doesn’t seem to exist for Keith.

At a push he might go for a different name but same meaning.

I can’t have a baby Keith (just FYI he’s not insisting on it)

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ClemDanfango · 19/08/2018 19:18

It’s up there (or rather down there) with Barry and Kevin.
Just no.

MikeUniformMike · 19/08/2018 19:18

Keighley?

LeeMiller · 19/08/2018 19:20

Does Keith have a middle name that you could use instead? Would another name starting with K be close enough for your DH (Keir? Kit?)

It's a nice gesture for a middle name but I'd be surprised if even Keith wanted you to give his name to a baby as his first name, it's very dated - like Gary, Alan, Barry, Malcolm.

CAAKE · 19/08/2018 19:21

Keef...

Keith?
Pressuredrip · 19/08/2018 19:22

Keith, Barry, Trevor, Gordon. It's one of those. My grandad is called Keith, but I couldn't do it. I agree that you could definitely let away with Kit though, or Keir. I know a teenage Keir.

Andthatsthat · 19/08/2018 19:22

I like Keir or Kit.

Heath?? It has the same sound but with a modern feel.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 19/08/2018 19:23

Kit is a great suggestion, it works very well.

twosunbathingdogs · 19/08/2018 19:25

Our (female) cat is called Keith

Our (male) dog is a Keith

Kay2705 · 19/08/2018 19:26

Don't do it 😩😩 my nephew is 10 and called Keith and it's just so off. We mostly call him his Nigerian name.

berylmeryl · 19/08/2018 19:26

He would be a Keef round here 😳 please don’t

AtticaRose · 19/08/2018 19:27

Oof, tough one. Kit is nice!

OK, so it's a Scottish surname meaning wood or forest.

Barclay (= Scottish surname, same meaning)

Boyce (=wood)
Roscoe (=wood)
Syvlester or Silvanus or Silvius (from Latin for wood)
Forrest/Forest
Woody

MikeUniformMike · 19/08/2018 19:27

Keir is just as bad as Keith.
I like the names Gary and Alan.

Ginger1982 · 19/08/2018 19:31

If you really want to honour the family member, call him Keith. My friend called her baby Malcolm after her dad. At first I was a bit surprised but he actually suits it.

LittleMissedTheSunshine · 19/08/2018 19:31

Keef Richards was the sexiest man alive in his heydey (not now obvs, but at least he's not babymaking with women 40 years younger like his bandmates)

The name Keith is due a comeback!

Lobsterquadrille2 · 19/08/2018 19:35

It reminds me of the line in the Spitting Image Chicken Song "..... and pretend your name is Keith".

Middle name.

Quangot · 19/08/2018 19:35

I don't see Keith as a comeback name. It does make me think "Cheggers Plays Pop" though Grin

Arden means "great forest" so a similar meaning.

Quangot · 19/08/2018 19:38

m.youtube.com/watch?v=X4TmQxLjELI

thismeansnothing · 19/08/2018 19:38

I love it. But I'm biased. My dad who passed away when I was little was called Keith. I'd use it in a heart beat.

But why does it need to be shortened?! It's one syllable as it is! But I don't get that with names though 'oh he/she is called X but y for short'

kenandbarbie · 19/08/2018 19:39

At first I was like Shockbut now I'm reading the thread it's growing on me. It actually sounds nice. Go for it!

fegus · 19/08/2018 19:40

When my son was born I left voicemail messages for several friends, voice was a little husky , and in due course we received cards for 'Keith' . His name is Heath. (DH vetoed Heathcliff, quite rightly I see now) . Still makes me smile 12 years later. Smile . I wouldn't call a child Keith willingly.

raeray · 19/08/2018 19:41

Ahh go for it OP!
He'll be your little boy and as soon as he's named and you see him you'll love it because it's his name.
It's also my late dads name so although biased - I think there needs to be some new Keith's around!

supercalifragilistic2 · 19/08/2018 21:09

1970 called. They want their name back!

Kenneth at a push could be shortened to Keith, you could go with Kit as a shortened version, or kenny might work at a push, but I don't think an official shortened name exists.

Personally I would use it as a middle name, or go for Keith as a first name and then use his middle name as a day to day name. Keith just isn't a great name although you would probably hate my ds's name :)

Did the relative had a middle name or alternatively if their surname was different to what your child's surname would be could you use that as a first/middle name?

Original poster
MimiSunshine · 19/08/2018 21:17

Thanks all. I just don’t love it, although I love the reason for it, and any other suggestion just doesn’t feel close enough to Keith to work.

I’ve spoken to DP and he is fine, I think deep down he just likes the idea of it rather than the reality

OP posts:
ZebraKid71 · 19/08/2018 21:35

Going against the grain here but I like it.

Also like Keiferwhich I feel is the only one close enough to use as to honour him.

neddle · 19/08/2018 21:45

Surely it’s short for CatThiefKeith?