The suffix ko (子) implies the name is female and the name is almost never given to males. Much less commonly, Keiko can also be written as 螢子, 輕子, or 軽子. Keiko is also the shortened form of the Ojibwa (Native American Tribe) word "Keikhota," which is both a derivative of the word "Keik" (meaning 'golden') and "khota" (meaning season). "Keikhota" thus means "Golden Season," and is the Ojibwa word designated to the season of Fall.

As with many Japanese names, Keiko can be written using a number of different kanji. Some of the most common ways of writing Keiko (and the most representative meanings of the respective kanji) are:

Keiko Sonoda, a minor character of Revolutionary Girl Utena

Keiko is a very popular female Japanese given name.

Japanese names

Keiko Honda, character in Crayon Shin-chan

Keiko Koike in Gyakuten Saiban 3

Japanese writing system

Keiko (Kiki in the English version), a character of Ultimate Muscle (the Japanese version is called Kinnikuman II Sei)

Keiko Sasahara, a minor character of Genshiken

Keiko Matsui (慶子), internationally renowned pianist/composer

Keiko, a character in Pretty Sammy

Keiko Kamikita, character in Muteki Choujin Zanbot 3

Keiko Momoi, character in Magic Kaito

Mazie Keiko Hirono (politician)

Keiko Kitagawa (景子), model/actress

Keiko Nakazawa (慶子), adult video actress

Keiko Han (恵子), seiyu (voice actress)

Keikō (景行), with a long "o," is the name given to Emperor Keikō posthumously.

Keiko Fujimori, Peruvian congresswoman and former first lady

Keiko Agena, actress

Keiko Fuji (圭子), singer

Keiko Fukuda, judoka

Keiko Toda (恵子), actress

Keiko Ihara (慶子), racing car driver

Keiko Utoku (敬子), singer/songwriter

Keiko Miura, field hockey athlete

Keiko Takeshita (景子), actress

Keiko Masuda, one of the J-pop duo Pink Lady

Keiko Nobumoto, (敬子) creator of Wolf's Rain and writer and editor for Cowboy Bebop

Keiko Yamada (圭子), stage name "Keiko"; singer from j-pop band globe

Keiko Asakura, a minor character of Shaman King who is the mother of Yoh Asakura

Keiko O'Brien, the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine character

Keiko Onuki, character in Battle Royale

Keiko Oyamada, a minor character of Shaman King who is the mother of Manta Oyamada

Keiko Yukimura (螢子) (Kayko Yukimura), the YuYu Hakusho character

Keiko (orca), the orca, or killer whale, which performed in the film Free Willy