A system and method are provided for identifying suggested addressees of for messages being composed, based on keyword content of the composed message's subject line and/or message body. When a message is being composed at a messaging client, a request comprising at least a portion of the subject line or body is sent to a server or similar device. In response, the server provides an identification of possible addressees having a highest score associated with keywords identified in the transmitted portion. One or more of these addressees can be selected for inclusion in an address field of the composed message. Identification of the suggested addressees is based on a score assessed based on the number of forwarded messages received by those addressees containing those keywords, where repeated receipt of forwarded messages increases the addressee's score associated with those keywords.