Keanu

Keanu - A very unique male name

Keanu appeared on the charts for the first time in 1991 on position #1364. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Keanu and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Keanu? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Keanu. The baby boy name Keanu was given to 392 baby boys in 2025, ranking #641 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 3,741 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Keanu peaked in popularity 6 years ago in 2020 on position 518.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Keanu, 1-5?

Keanu is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Keanu is currently topping the baby name charts in Hawaii at position #101 - and is the least popular in Tennessee at position #1,108.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Keanu is where you live.

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Keanu origin and meaning

Hawaiian

'The cool breeze' — from Hawaiian ke anu, 'the coolness', traditionally understood as the cool breeze over the mountains

Keanu is a Hawaiian nature name for the cool mountain breeze, a name that one actor has carried around the entire world. It entered US data in 1991 — the year of Point Break — peaked in 2020 at the height of its bearer's late-career renaissance, and has eased since.

Attested etymology

Keanu is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Keanu, pop culture references for the name Keanu and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Keanu

We've found the following names that sound similar to Keanu, sorted by popularity.

Kenny / Keegan / Kim / Ken / Kane / Keenan / Kayson / Kason / Kian / Kasen /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Keanu

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Keanu a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Keanu?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

kee-AH-noo · /kiˈɑːnuː/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Famous bearers

• Keanu Reeves — Actor, star of The Matrix and John Wick (b. 1964) Contemporary

Style

InternationalNature

Why parents choose it

Parents pick Keanu for its gentle Hawaiian meaning and its association with one of Hollywood's most liked men.

Worth knowing

• It is a thoroughly one-person name — the association with Keanu Reeves is total, and its fortunes rise and fall with his.