Boy name · Scots
Kerr
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: thicket, marshKerr is a boy's name that comes from Scots and means "thicket, marsh". It is used in English and Scottish.
- Meaning
- Thicket, marsh
- Origin
- Scots
- Gender
- Boy
- Letters
- 4
Meaning and origin of Kerr
As a boy's name, Kerr comes from Scots and means "thicket, marsh". It is used in English and Scottish.
Kerr is also a surname: the 780th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 43,118 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Kerr on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Kerr on 3 lists.
“Old Norse kjarr, brushwood or marsh; CAR in Scotland, KUR or KAIR in the US”
From Pretty last names, pretty Irish, Scottish and Welsh surnames
“Thicket or marsh, from Old Norse kjarr via Scots; a Borders clan.”
From Scottish boy names, scottish clan and surname names for boys
“Old Norse kjarr, marshy thicket; a Border reiver family”
From Scottish last names, lowland and Border family names
How popular is Kerr?
- Recent US rank
- Fewer than 5 babies in 2025
- Best rank
- #4,220 in 1972
- 7 babies that year
- Babies since 1972
- At least 23
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
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| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 0 per million |
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| 2020s | 1 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | #11,587 | – | – |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Kerr
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- KeirThicket, marsh (Scots, boy)
Names spelled like Kerr
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- KerryCiar's people (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- KarlFree man (Germanic, boy)
- KedarDark (Hebrew, boy)
- KeiBlessing; wisdom (depends on characters) (Japanese, unisex)
- KenHealthy, strong; sword (depends on characters) (Japanese, boy)
- KeremGenerosity, nobility (Arabic, boy)
- KesarSaffron (Sanskrit, unisex)
- KfirLion cub (Hebrew, boy)
- KurtBold counsel (Germanic, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- BrooklynFrom Brooklyn, New York, from Dutch broken land or marsh land (Dutch, girl)
- HorstThicket (Germanic, boy)
- RipleyThicket clearing (Old English, unisex)
Middle names for Kerr
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Scots
- MuirMoor, fen (Scots, boy)
- CarsonFrom a Scottish surname of uncertain meaning (Scots, boy)
Kerr: common questions
What does the name Kerr mean?
Kerr comes from Scots and means "thicket, marsh".
Is Kerr a boy or girl name?
Kerr is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Kerr come from?
Kerr comes from Scots and means "thicket, marsh". Today it is used in English and Scottish.
What are other forms of Kerr?
Forms of Kerr with the same meaning and origin include Keir (English).
What middle names go with Kerr?
Middle names that flow well with Kerr include Alexander, Ambrose, Conrad, George and Mitchell. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.