Keltic

Keltic is an alternative spelling of Celtic, used in reference to the Celts, a collection of tribal societies that inhabited parts of Iron Age and medieval Europe. The term ultimately derives from the Latin Keltoi, used by ancient Greek and Roman writers to describe Celtic-speaking peoples. Over time, the spelling and pronunciation of the related adjective and noun have varied.

In modern English, Celtic is the standard spelling for most purposes, including the cultures, languages (the Celtic languages), art, and archaeology associated with the Celts. Keltic tends to appear in historical or specialized contexts, and as a proper noun in certain names. Some older scholarly writings and certain brandings or local usages have retained or revived the Keltic form.

The form also appears in branding and nomenclature. Various organizations, ships, or commercial entities have adopted Keltic in their names or styling to evoke Celtic heritage. In such contexts, the choice of spelling is often a matter of tradition, branding, or regional preference rather than linguistic rule.

For further reference, see Celtic, Celts, and Keltoi for background on the ancient peoples and their language families. The distinction between Keltic and Celtic is primarily orthographic and historical, with Celtic serving as the current standard in most scholarly and general usage.