Meaning & origin
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1920. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kei through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 837
- 651 boys · 186 girls
- Most popular year
- 2015
- 40 babies
- 2025
- 14
- #6,284 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −23%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 14 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 6,284 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 21.7% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 33 in 2015. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,557 as a first name in 2020; 225 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Kei’s family of names
In Japanese usage, Kei is a Roman-alphabet rendering of 啓. In Japanese usage, Kei is a Roman-alphabet rendering of 圭. In Japanese usage, Kei is a transliteration of 圭.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: across languages.
Spellings & scripts 11
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
- 圭in another script · Japanese
- 希唯original script · Japanese
- 慧original script · Japanese
- 恵original script · Japanese
- 啓original script · Japanese
- 蛍original script · Japanese
- 経original script · Japanese
- Keylikely spelling
Show 3 moreShow fewer
Across languages 6
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Kei
- Kei NishikoriJapanese tennis player (born 1989)
- Kei MikuriyaJapanese association football player (1977-)
- Kei YamaguchiJapanese association football playerborn 1983
- Kei KoizumiJapanese association football playerborn 1995
- Kei IkedaJapanese association football playerborn 1986
- Kei KamaraSierra Leonean footballerborn 1984
- Kei TaniguchiJapanese association football playerborn 1974
- Kei UemuraJapanese association football playerborn 1981
- Kei OmotoJapanese association football playerborn 1984
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kei, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Koji
Koji is a masculine given name from Japanese. It is used in English and Tagalog.
>99% boys
Shohei
Shohei is a masculine given name from Japanese. It is used in English, Portuguese, and Tagalog.
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Rai
“one who is trustworthy” · “a trustworthy man; of lightning and thunder”
78% boys · 22% girls
Kenshin
Kenshin is a masculine given name from Japanese. It is used in Cebuano.
>99% boys
Seiji
“one who manages the affairs of the state”
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Yoshi
“one who is respectful and good” · “a good-hearted man; one who is free”
83% boys · 17% girls
Ryu
“a dragon”
99% boys · 1% girls
Kenzo
Kenzo is a masculine given name from Japanese. It is used in English, French, Dutch, and Tagalog.
>99% boys