Keanu
Boy name · #649 in 2025 · Uniqueness 65/100
Keanu ranks #649 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 427 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1023, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 4,215 boys born in 2025 was named Keanu.
Babies named Keanu per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 35-year story
Keanu first appears in the Social Security records in 1990, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2020, when 557 boys were named Keanu — good for #515 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Keanu against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Keanu in class?
Keanu scores 65 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Keanu is most common
Geography matters for names, and Keanu is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Keanus were CA (78), TX (59), FL (37), NY (15), WA (15). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Keanu
Statistically, parents drawn to Keanu tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kylan, Kyree, Khalil, Kenzo, and Kenji.
KylanKyreeKhalilKenzoKenjiKabirBriarKylen
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Keanu | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 427 | #648 |
| 2024 | 442 | #631 |
| 2023 | 551 | #536 |
| 2022 | 484 | #591 |
| 2021 | 553 | #532 |
| 2020 | 557 | #515 |
| 2019 | 429 | #630 |
| 2018 | 283 | #799 |
| 2017 | 242 | #890 |
| 2016 | 211 | #973 |
| 2015 | 198 | #1023 |
| 2014 | 142 | #1257 |
| 2013 | 110 | #1483 |
| 2012 | 151 | #1191 |
| 2011 | 163 | #1118 |
| 2010 | 162 | #1143 |
| 2009 | 164 | #1125 |
| 2008 | 165 | #1111 |
| 2007 | 165 | #1102 |
| 2006 | 177 | #1033 |
| 2005 | 179 | #972 |
| 2004 | 202 | #867 |
| 2003 | 208 | #836 |
| 2002 | 212 | #807 |
| 2001 | 269 | #674 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Keanu a popular boy name?
Keanu ranked #649 among boys in 2025 with 427 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1023.
When was the name Keanu most popular?
Keanu peaked in 2020, when 557 American boys received the name (ranked #515 that year). Since 2020 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Keanu?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 4,215 newborn American boys was named Keanu. It scores 65/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.