Abstract: System and methods are provided that can address cold-start problems in database keyword searches. The search system generates machine-learned values for new item and queries based on historical signals for already existing item and queries. The values are used as input in a ranking model to rank search results for a user query. The initial values for the new item query pairs predict user engagement with the new item query pairs based on historical data for existing item query pairs and increase the visibility of new items to accumulate user interaction data for the new items. After additional user interactions are received, the values are updated using a Bayesian formula.