Keenen
- Gender
- Boy
- Say it
- KEE-nen
- Origin
- Irish
Keenen is a boys' name of Irish origin, meaning “little ancient one”. Too few babies were given it in the latest year to rank.
What does Keenen mean?
Irish: spelling of Keenan, from Cianán
“little ancient one”
A spelling of Keenan, from the Irish Cianán, a diminutive of Cian 'ancient, enduring'.
Is Keenen a girl's or a boy's name?
Keenen is a boys' name.
How popular is Keenen in the UK?
No boys in the UK were given it in 2025, or too few to be listed. Its busiest year was 1997, with 13 boys.
Keenen in the UK, year by year
| Year | Boys | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 | #5,109 |
| 2004 | 0 | – |
| 2003 | 0 | – |
| 2002 | 0 | – |
| 2001 | 0 | – |
| 2000 | 4 | #2,612 |
| 1999 | 0 | – |
| 1998 | 9 | #1,446 |
| 1997 | 13 | #1,111 |
How popular is Keenen in the US?
No boys in the US were given it in 2025, or too few to be listed. Its busiest year was 1991, with 134 boys. It first appears in the records in 1976.
Half of all the boys named Keenen in the US since 1880 were born between 1991 and 2001, the years shaded on the chart below.
Keenen in the US, year by year
| Year | Boys | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 6 | #10,855 |
| 2021 | 8 | #8,820 |
| 2020 | 0 | – |
| 2019 | 9 | #8,209 |
| 2018 | 8 | #8,813 |
| 2017 | 16 | #5,522 |
| 2016 | 11 | #7,152 |
| 2015 | 8 | #8,739 |
| 2014 | 8 | #8,775 |
| 2013 | 16 | #5,400 |
| 2012 | 15 | #5,714 |
| 2011 | 15 | #5,670 |
| 2010 | 12 | #6,692 |
| 2009 | 13 | #6,432 |
| 2008 | 15 | #5,762 |
| 2007 | 21 | #4,491 |
| 2006 | 25 | #3,886 |
| 2005 | 17 | #4,819 |
| 2004 | 26 | #3,530 |
| 2003 | 18 | #4,421 |
| 2002 | 20 | #4,038 |
| 2001 | 14 | #5,135 |
| 2000 | 25 | #3,293 |
| 1999 | 19 | #3,829 |
| 1998 | 85 | #1,369 |
| 1997 | 119 | #1,063 |
| 1996 | 47 | #1,904 |
| 1995 | 58 | #1,583 |
| 1994 | 50 | #1,748 |
| 1993 | 77 | #1,290 |
| 1992 | 98 | #1,106 |
| 1991 | 134 | #903 |
| 1990 | 114 | #984 |
| 1989 | 12 | #4,265 |
| 1988 | 12 | #3,910 |
| 1987 | 6 | #6,083 |
| 1986 | 6 | #5,920 |
| 1985 | 7 | #5,142 |
| 1984 | 0 | – |
| 1983 | 6 | #5,481 |
| 1982 | 0 | – |
| 1981 | 0 | – |
| 1980 | 0 | – |
| 1979 | 0 | – |
| 1978 | 0 | – |
| 1977 | 0 | – |
| 1976 | 5 | #5,584 |
Names like Keenen
Names given in the same years and the same naming tradition, with a similar sound.
Keegan Aiden Brayden Kayden Conan Ronan Declan Keelan Kody Finn Conlan Brogan
Names related to Keenen
More Irish names
Oscar Rowan Rory Maeve Ryan Nolan Quinn Orla Cody Erin Connor Casey Kennedy Callan Lennon Cillian
Sources
Figures from Baby names in England and Wales (Office for National Statistics), Babies' first names (National Records of Scotland), Baby names (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency) and Popular Baby Names (US Social Security Administration). Nameling last updated them on 20 October 2026. How the figures are worked out, and the data to download.
To cite this page: Nameling, “Keenen: name meaning, origin and popularity”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/keenen, updated 20 October 2026.