Names dedicated to Keith, that aren't Keith

[kitsilano19]

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?

Use Keith as a middle name

Firstname Keith Surname sounds good

I think this is middle name territory really. There are names that are effectively part of sets but I’m not sure Keith is one of them.

@TheYearOfSmallThings

I would either use Keith itself (maybe as a middle name) or just remember your father in another way. Using a name with a tenuous connection to someone's actual name because you really don't like their actual name doesn't honour anyone. It is actually like going out of your way to emphasise that you really REALLY don't like their actual name.

I like Keith as a middle name!

This is spot on

It's a classic Scottish surname/clan name, just because it was popular in the mid 20th century doesn't take away from it.
Alternatively did your Dad have a middle name?

There are classfuls of Stanleys and Alberts presumably named after grandfathers, who sounded odd until it caught on.
Go for it and be ahead of the curve.

Keifer is cool

Are you married? I’m just wondering if your previous surname would work as a middle name.

Will have your (and therefore your dad's) surname? If not could you use that as a middle name. I did that though mine was a name that can be a first name too. I think I'd have used it anyway. All 3 of my DC have first names that we just liked and middle names with a family connection.

Another vote for middle name or else your dad’s surname as a middle name.

I’m sorry your dad has died.

Kieran

Use Keith, maybe as a middle name or find a different way to remember your father.
When your son is asked/asks about his name it can either go

• you are named Keith after your Granddad or

-you are named …. because it sounds like Keith your granddads name or it means something similar to Keith your granddads name

As a son I’d be be happy to say I was named after my granddad, I probably wouldn’t bother with the long explanation so it will not be known beyond your son.

Does your dad have a middle name? My dads a Keith too, I used his middle name for DS.

Bizarrely, the more I look at it, the more I like Keith.

Go with Keith as the middle name if you really don't want it as the first.

I would argue that you can use a different version of a name to remember someone by. DD has my grandmother's middle name and a different language version of my other grandmother's first name as her middle names . She knows why they were chosen so job done as far as I'm concerned.

Cliff?

Kit

@SoupDragon

Bizarrely, the more I look at it, the more I like Keith.

Go with Keith as the middle name if you really don't want it as the first.

Despite also liking the idea of using a surname as a middle name, I actually agree with this. Keith has a lovely tone and is pleasant to say iyswim. It’s just the point in time we’re at. I have no doubt it will make a comeback.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Your dad would be honoured to have a grandson, let alone one with his name. Keith as a middle name would be a fitting tribute- it's very normal and modern to have older names as middle names and they're not used often so don't matter to anyone else. You could even use Keith as a middle name and nick name.

Both my DC have my Dad's surname (my maiden name) as their middle name.

If you use Keith now, in 20 years it will be mega popular and your DS will be achingly cool for being ahead of the curve

My dad doesn’t like his own name, so we went with his middle name for DS, which also happens to be my uncle’s name, so double whammy (my mums brother obviously, gran didn’t give her 2 sons the same name).

How's about removing some letters and having Kit?

We met a 10 year old Keith recently and it was a surprise we quickly got over and now think of the name very fondly on a young person.

The only time a name can be truly horrible is if the person's horrible.

You clearly had a lovely dad called Keith and I'm sure your son will own it himself and be a lovely (middle named) Keith himself.

Call him Keith and be done with it. It will make a nice change from all the Alfies and Archies that abound now.

Keith is a nice name. It's got a 70s vibe to us which can be off-putting, but by the time he's an adult it could easily be the new Oliver and no-one will bat an eye.

Ethan?

Or use either Keith or your surname as a middle name.