Keith in Chinese
Keith in Chinese is 基思 (Jī Sī).
- Origin
- Scottish
- Meaning
- wood, forest
Etymologically, Keith is Scottish and is commonly glossed as "wood, forest". It first shows up in US Social Security records in 1888 and peaked in 1957.
3 ways to write Keith
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
基思
Jī Sī
The standard transliteration of Keith: 基 (jī, "foundation, base"), 思 (sī, "to think; longing"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
Mandarin has no consonant clusters, so the 1-syllable English name is spread over 2 characters: 基 jī + 思 sī. The tone contour is 1-1 (high level, high level).
Character breakdown
20 strokes total (simplified)- 基
jī
Tone 1 · 11 strokes (simplified)
foundation, base
- 思
sī
Tone 1 · 9 strokes (simplified)
to think; longing
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
嘉树
Jiā Shù
Inspired by "wood, forest": 嘉 (jiā, "excellent, praiseworthy") + 树 (shù, "tree; to establish"), expressing flowers, trees and natural beauty.
Why these characters?
Because Keith is linked to "wood", the name leads with 嘉 (excellent, praiseworthy); 树 (tree; to establish) gives it a natural given-name finish.
Character breakdown
23 strokes total (simplified)- 嘉
jiā
Tone 1 · 14 strokes (simplified)
excellent, praiseworthy
- 树
shù
Tone 4 · 9 strokes (simplified)
tree; to establish
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
家柏
Jiā Bǎi
家 (jiā, "home, family") + 柏 (bǎi, "cypress"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
家 (jiā) sounds close to the opening "keith" of Keith (compare 基 jī) but means "home, family"; 柏 adds "cypress".
Character breakdown
19 strokes total (simplified)- 家
jiā
Tone 1 · 10 strokes (simplified)
home, family
- 柏
bǎi
Tone 3 · 9 strokes (simplified)
cypress
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Stroke order
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Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 434,474 boys named Keith since 1888, with the high point in 1957 (12,424 births) and the busiest decade being the 1960s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #80 to #492 among boys.
- Peak year
- 1957
- Peak decade
- 1960s
- First year
- 1888
- Total since 1880
- 434,474
More About Keith in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Keith offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of Keith, you'll find options that work for you.
If you're exploring Chinese names for boys, you might also be interested in Bryce in Chinese, Erik in Chinese, and Diego in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Alan in Chinese, Eli in Chinese, and Josiah in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Keith, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Keith to native Chinese speakers
- Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
- Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages
Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.
Frequently asked questions
What is Keith in Chinese characters?
基思 (Jī Sī), identical in simplified and traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
Is there a Chinese name for Keith with real meaning?
Try 嘉树 (Jiā Shù): excellent, praiseworthy + tree; to establish, inspired by "wood, forest". For something that still sounds like Keith, 家柏 (Jiā Bǎi) is a middle ground.
How popular is the name Keith?
US Social Security records show 434,474 boys named Keith since 1888, with the high point in 1957 (12,424 births) and the busiest decade being the 1960s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #80 to #492 among boys.