Baby names starting with K
170 names beginning with K, each with an editorial meaning and origin note and its real popularity rank from the 2025 U.S. Social Security Administration data. Rank is U.S.-only and reflects how records are grouped in that source.
- Kace modern respelling of Case, generally treated as a short form of Casey, from the Irish surname O Cathasaigh, from 'cathasach' = vigilant, watchful
- Kacey modern respelling of Casey, from the Irish surname O Cathasaigh, from 'cathasach' = vigilant, watchful
- Kade modern spelling of Cade, a transferred English surname of uncertain origin, possibly from Middle English 'cade' = round, barrel-shaped, or a hand-reared lamb
- Kaden modern American coinage, a spelling of Caden in the Aiden/Jayden rhyming family; sometimes linked to the Irish surname Mac Cadain ('son of Cadan'), though the modern name arose independently of it
- Kael modern name, either a respelling of the Irish Cael, from 'caol' = slender, or a respelling of Kale; root debated
- Kaeli modern respelling of Kaylee, an American coinage joining a Kay- element to the -lee ending; no older documented root
- Kai several unrelated names share the spelling: Hawaiian 'kai' = sea; a Japanese name whose sense depends on the character written; a Frisian and Danish short form of Nicolaus; and a Welsh name from Latin Caius
- Kaia Scandinavian pet form of Katharina (Katherine), from Greek Aikaterine, of uncertain root, later associated with 'katharos' = pure; also read as Hawaiian 'kai' = sea
- Kaiden modern American coinage, a respelling of Caden - from the Irish surname Mac Cadain - reshaped to rhyme with Aiden and Jayden
- Kailani Hawaiian, 'kai' = sea + 'lani' = sky, heaven; 'sea and sky'
- Kailany modern American coinage joining Kai- to the -lani ending (compare Kehlani, Leilani); no older documented root
- Kairi Japanese given name whose sense depends on the characters written, commonly 'kai' = sea + 'ri' = village or reason; in English-speaking use also read as a feminine form of Kai
- Kairo respelling of Cairo, the Egyptian capital, from Arabic 'al-Qahira' = 'the victorious, the vanquisher'
- Kaisen modern American coinage joining Kai- to the -sen ending (compare Kaiden, Jensen); no older documented root
- Kaisley modern American coinage in the -ley pattern (compare Paisley, Ainsley); no older documented root
- Kaison modern American coinage in the -son pattern (compare Jayson, Mason); no older documented root
- Kaitlyn modern American respelling of Caitlin, the Irish form of Catherine, from Greek Aikaterine
- Kaius respelling of Caius, a variant of the Roman first name Gaius; its meaning is uncertain, though it has been linked to Latin 'gaudere' = to rejoice
- Kaiya modern name of debated origin, usually treated as a variant of Kaia, a Scandinavian pet form of Katharina, or as a feminine elaboration of Kai
- Kaizen from Japanese 'kaizen' = improvement ('kai' = change + 'zen' = good); a business term for continuous improvement, taken up as a modern given name in English
- Kalani Hawaiian, from 'ka' = the + 'lani' = sky, heaven; also carries the sense 'royal, chiefly'
- Kalea Hawaiian, from 'ka' = the + 'lea' = joy, delight
- Kaleb modern respelling of Caleb, from Hebrew Kalev, usually connected with 'kelev' = dog and understood as faithful
- Kalel from Kal-El, the Kryptonian birth name of Superman in the DC comics; no older root
- Kali from Sanskrit 'kali', feminine of 'kala' = black, dark (also 'time'); the name of the Hindu goddess; also used as a respelling of Callie
- Kaliyah modern American name, a K- variant of Aaliyah, from Arabic 'aliya' = high, exalted
- Kallie variant of Callie, a pet form of Caroline or of Greek-derived names in Calli-, from 'kallos' = beauty
- Kamari modern American name built on the Kam-/-ari sound pattern; sometimes connected with Arabic 'qamar' = moon, though the modern name is essentially a new coinage
- Kamden modern respelling of Camden, an English place-name surname, from Old English 'camb' = ridge + 'denu' = valley
- Kameron modern respelling of Cameron, from the Scottish Gaelic 'cam' = crooked + 'sron' = nose
- Kamila Polish and Czech form of Camilla, from the Roman family name Camillus (a 'camillus' was a youth who attended at religious rites); also an Arabic name, feminine of 'kamil' = perfect, complete
- Kamiyah modern American coinage joining the Ka- prefix to the -miyah ending (compare Amiyah, Jamiyah); no older documented root
- Kamryn modern respelling of Cameron, from the Scottish Gaelic 'cam' = crooked + 'sron' = nose
- Kanan from Sanskrit 'kanana' = forest, grove
- Kane anglicized form of the Irish surname O Cathain, from 'cath' = battle; also read as Welsh 'cain' = fair, beautiful
- Kara either a variant of Cara, from Italian and Latin 'cara' = beloved, dear, or a Scandinavian short form of Katherine
- Kareem Arabic 'karim' = generous, noble; one of the names of God in Islam
- Karen Danish short form of Katherine, a Greek name of uncertain origin later linked to 'katharos' = pure
- Karina either a form of Carina, from Latin 'cara' = dear, beloved, or a Scandinavian and Slavic form of Katherine; root debated
- Karla German and Spanish feminine of Karl, from Germanic 'karl' = free man
- Karolina Polish and Scandinavian form of Caroline, a feminine of Charles, from Germanic 'karl' = free man
- Karson modern respelling of Carson, a Scottish and northern English surname of uncertain origin
- Karsyn modern respelling of Carson, a Scottish and northern English surname of uncertain origin
- Karter modern American respelling of Carter, an occupational surname for a driver of carts
- Kartier modern American coinage, a respelling of the French luxury house name Cartier, itself a surname for a carter or cart-driver
- Kase modern respelling of Case or Casey; Casey is from the Irish surname O Cathasaigh, from 'cathasach' = vigilant, watchful
- Kasen modern American coinage in the -sen / -son pattern (compare Mason, Jayce); no older documented root
- Kasey respelling of Casey, from the Irish surname O Cathasaigh, from 'cathasach' = vigilant, watchful
- Kash modern respelling of Cash; the English word comes via Old French 'casse' = money box, from Latin 'capsa' = box, case
- Kashton modern American coinage, joining Kash (a respelling of Cash) to the popular '-ton' ending
- Kason modern American coinage in the -son pattern (compare Mason, Jayson); no older documented root
- Kassandra variant spelling of Cassandra, a Greek mythological name; the elements are uncertain, the second often read as 'aner', stem 'andr-' = man
- Kassidy respelling of Cassidy, an Irish surname anglicized from O Caiside, from 'cas' = curly, curly-haired
- Kataleya respelling of Cattleya, an orchid genus named after the English horticulturist William Cattley (d. 1835); the spelling spread through Latin American usage
- Katalina elaborated form of Catalina, the Spanish form of Katherine, from Greek Aikaterine, a name of uncertain origin later reshaped by association with 'katharos' = pure
- Kate short form of Katherine, from Greek Aikaterine, of unknown root, later linked to 'katharos' = pure
- Katelyn modern respelling of Caitlin, the Irish form of Old French Cateline (Katherine), from Greek Aikaterine; the root is uncertain, later linked to 'katharos' = pure
- Katherine from Greek Aikaterine, of unknown root; the 'th' spelling came later, from an association with 'katharos' = pure
- Kathleen anglicized form of the Irish Caitlin, from Katherine, a Greek name of uncertain origin later linked to 'katharos' = pure
- Kathryn modern respelling of Katherine, from Greek Aikaterine, of unknown root
- Katie pet form of Katherine, from Greek Aikaterine, of unknown root
- Kaya either Turkish 'kaya' = rock, cliff, or a modern respelling of Kaia or Maya; the sources are independent
- Kayce modern respelling of Casey, from the Irish surname O Cathasaigh, from 'cathasach' = vigilant, watchful; recently popularized by a character on the TV series Yellowstone
- Kaycen modern American coinage, a respelling of Kasen or Cason built on the Kay- element and the -sen ending; no older documented root
- Kayden modern American coinage, a respelling of Caden built on the -aden rhyme of Aiden and Jayden; sometimes tied to the Irish surname Mac Cadain, though that link is doubtful
- Kayla modern American name, probably a blend of Kay with the '-la' ending or a variant of Kaila; popularized in the 1980s by a character on the soap opera Days of Our Lives
- Kaylani modern coinage, usually read as Hawaiian 'kai' = sea + 'lani' = sky, heaven, royal, though the spelling is not traditional Hawaiian
- Kaylee modern American coinage, blending the sound of Kay/Kayla with the popular -lee/-leigh ending; no older attested root
- Kayleigh modern respelling of Kaylee, itself a joining of Kay and Lee; fixed in British use by the Marillion song (1985)
- Kaysen modern American coinage, a respelling of Kason/Cason built from the Kay-/Case- sound plus the '-sen' ending; no older root
- Kayson modern American coinage, built from the Kay-/Case- sound plus the -son ending (compare Jayson, Grayson); no older attested root
- Keanu Hawaiian, 'ke' = the + 'anu' = coolness; 'the cool breeze'
- Keaton surname from English place names, most often read as the farmstead where kites are seen, Old English 'cyta' = kite + 'tun' = settlement
- Keegan from the Irish surname Mac Aodhagain, 'son of Aodhagan', a double diminutive of Aodh = fire
- Kehlani modern name popularized by the American singer Kehlani (b. 1995); read as Hawaiian 'ke' = the + 'lani' = sky, heaven, royal, though it is not a traditional Hawaiian name
- Keilani Hawaiian, 'ke' = the + 'lani' = sky, heaven, royal
- Keilany modern American coinage joining Kei- / Kai- to the -lani ending (compare Kehlani, Leilani); no older documented root
- Keily modern respelling of Keeley or Kaylee; Keeley is from the Irish surname O Caolaidhe, from 'caol' = slender
- Keira respelling of Ciara, the feminine of Ciar, from Irish 'ciar' = dark, black
- Keith Scottish surname from a place in East Lothian, probably from a Brittonic word for wood
- Kellan anglicized Irish name, generally from Caolan, from 'caol' = slender with a diminutive ending; sometimes traced instead to Cellach
- Kellen either an anglicized form of Irish Caolan, from 'caol' = slender, or a transferred Germanic surname from the place name Kellen; root debated
- Kelsey transferred surname from an English place name, an Old English personal name plus 'eg' = island, a patch of dry ground in marsh
- Kelvin from the River Kelvin in Glasgow, a Gaelic name usually explained as 'caol abhainn' = narrow water; also the title of the physicist Lord Kelvin, hence the temperature scale
- Kenai from the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska, named for the Dena'ina (Kenaitze) people; used as a given name after the 2003 film Brother Bear
- Kendall transferred English surname, from the Cumbrian place name Kendal = 'valley of the River Kent'
- Kendrick either the Welsh surname from Cynwrig, 'cyn' = chief + 'gwr' = man, hero, or an English surname from Cyneric, 'cyne' = royal + 'ric' = power
- Kenia Spanish form of Kenya, from the country and Mount Kenya, whose name comes from a local Bantu word for the mountain
- Kenna feminine form of Kenneth, from Scottish Gaelic Coinneach = 'comely, handsome'; also used as a short form of McKenna
- Kennedi modern respelling of Kennedy, from the Irish surname O Cinneide, from 'ceann' = head + 'eidigh' = ugly, misshapen; originally a nickname
- Kennedy from the Irish surname O Cinneide, from 'ceann' = head + a second element read as ugly or helmeted, originally a byname; taken up widely in America after President John F. Kennedy
- Kenneth anglicized form of two separate Gaelic names: Coinneach = comely, handsome, and Cinaed = 'born of fire'
- Kenny diminutive of Kenneth, from either the Gaelic Cinaed = 'born of fire' or Coinneach = 'comely, handsome'
- Kensley modern American coinage on the -ley pattern (compare Kinsley, Ainsley); no older documented root
- Kenzie short form of Mackenzie, from Scottish Gaelic Mac Coinnich = son of Coinneach, from 'coinneach' = comely, handsome
- Kenzo Japanese given name, most often written with characters read 'ken' = strong, healthy or wise + 'zo'; the sense depends on the kanji chosen
- Kevin anglicized form of the Irish Caoimhin, from 'caomh' = gentle, kind, beloved, plus a diminutive; St Kevin founded the monastery at Glendalough
- Keyla either the Yiddish name Keyle, from Hebrew Kelila = 'crown', or a modern respelling of Kayla; root debated
- Keziah from Hebrew Qetsi'ah = cassia, the fragrant bark; one of the daughters of Job
- Khai Vietnamese name from the Sino-Vietnamese 'khai' = to open, to begin; in American use also a respelling of Kai
- Khalani modern American coinage on the -lani pattern (compare Kehlani, Leilani; Hawaiian 'lani' = heaven, sky); no older documented root
- Khaleesi a title invented by George R. R. Martin for the queen of the Dothraki in A Song of Ice and Fire; a fictional coinage with no older root
- Khalil Arabic 'khalil' = close friend, intimate companion; a title given to Abraham in Islam
- Khloe modern respelling of Chloe, from Greek 'chloe' = the green shoot, new growth
- Kian Irish Cian, from 'cian' = ancient, enduring, long-lasting; a separate Persian Kian also feeds the spelling
- Kiana Hawaiian form of Diana; in America also a modern coinage built on the Ki- opening
- Kiara either an English respelling of the Italian Chiara = bright, clear, or of the Irish Ciara, from 'ciar' = dark, black
- Kiera feminine form of Irish Kieran, from Gaelic 'ciar' = dark, black
- Kieran anglicized form of Irish Ciaran, from 'ciar' = dark, black + a diminutive ending; 'little dark one'
- Kilian variant of Cillian/Killian; the root is debated, read either as Irish 'ceall' = church or as a diminutive of 'ciall' = sense
- Killian anglicized form of the Irish Cillian, most often traced to 'ceall' = church, or to a diminutive meaning little one
- Kimberly from Kimberley in South Africa, named for the British Colonial Secretary Lord Kimberley; the English place name is from an Old English personal name (Cyneburh) + 'leah' = clearing, wood
- Kimora modern American name, popularized by the model Kimora Lee Simmons; no older documented root
- King English word name and transferred surname, from Old English 'cyning' = king, ruler; as a surname it began as a nickname
- Kingsley transferred English surname from place names, from Old English 'cyning' = king + 'leah' = clearing, wood
- Kingston surname from English place names, Old English 'cyning' = king + 'tun' = settlement; 'the king's estate'
- Kinley from the Scottish and Irish surname Mac Fhionnlaigh, from 'fionn' = fair, white + 'laoch' = warrior
- Kinslee respelling of Kinsley, an English place name and surname from an Old English personal name in Cyne- ('cyne' = royal) + 'leah' = wood, clearing
- Kinsley transferred surname from an English place name, from an Old English personal name plus 'leah' = wood, clearing
- Kira either the Russian feminine of Kir (Cyrus, a Persian royal name of debated meaning) or a respelling of Irish Ciara, from 'ciar' = dark; root debated
- Kiran from Sanskrit 'kirana' = ray of light, sunbeam
- Kit medieval English diminutive of Christopher, from Greek 'Christos' = anointed one + 'phero' = to bear; 'bearing Christ'
- Kiyan Persian, from 'kayan' = kings, the plural of the royal title 'kay' borne by the legendary Kayanian dynasty; also used as a spelling of Irish Cian, from 'cian' = ancient, enduring
- Kiyomi Japanese, most often written with characters read 'kiyo' = pure, clear + 'mi' = beauty; the sense varies with the characters chosen
- Klarity modern American respelling of the word Clarity, from Latin 'claritas' = brightness, clearness, from 'clarus' = clear, bright
- Klover modern American respelling of Clover, from Old English 'clafre', the plant
- Knox Scottish surname from a place name, from Gaelic 'cnoc' = hill, hillock
- Koa Hawaiian 'koa' = brave, bold, a warrior, and the name of the hardwood tree used for canoes and weapons
- Koah modern American coinage, either a K- respelling of Noah or an extension of Hawaiian Koa, from 'koa' = brave, a warrior (also the koa tree); no older documented root for this spelling
- Kobe from the Japanese port city of Kobe, its name traditionally read as the god's door, after the households that served the local shrine; taken up in America after the basketball player Kobe Bryant
- Koda modern name, sometimes traced to Dakota/Lakota 'khoda' = friend, ally; popularized by the bear cub Koda in the 2003 film Brother Bear
- Kody modern respelling of Cody, an anglicized form of the Irish surname O Cuidighthigh, from 'cuidightheach' = helpful one
- Koen Dutch short form of Koenraad (Conrad), from Germanic 'kuoni' = bold, brave + 'rad' = counsel
- Kohen respelling of Cohen, from Hebrew 'kohen' = priest
- Kolby modern respelling of Colby, an English surname from a place name, from the Old Norse personal name Koli + 'byr' = farm, settlement
- Kole modern respelling of Cole, from a medieval English byname from Old English 'col' = coal, for someone dark-haired
- Kollyns modern respelling of Collins, a surname meaning 'son of Colin' (Colin a medieval pet form of Nicholas), also an Anglicized form of the Irish O Coileain
- Kolson modern respelling of the English surname Colson = 'son of Col', Col being a medieval pet form of Nicholas
- Kolten modern respelling of Colton, a transferred English surname = 'coal town' or 'Cola's town'
- Kolter modern respelling of Colter, an English surname either for a keeper of colts or from 'coulter', the blade of a plough
- Kolton modern respelling of Colton, a transferred English surname = 'coal town' or 'Cola's town'
- Kooper respelling of Cooper, an occupational surname from Middle English 'couper' = a maker of barrels and casks
- Kora variant of Cora, from Greek 'kore' = maiden, an epithet of Persephone
- Korbin modern respelling of Corbin, from a Norman French surname, from 'corbeau' = raven; originally a byname for a dark-haired person
- Kreed respelling of Creed, from Latin 'credo' = I believe; a statement of belief
- Krew modern American coinage, a respelling of the English word 'crew'
- Krish short form of Krishna, from Sanskrit 'krishna' = black, dark blue; the eighth avatar of Vishnu
- Krishiv modern Indian coinage blending the divine names Krishna and Shiva; no older documented Sanskrit root
- Kristian Scandinavian form of Christian, from Latin 'christianus' = follower of Christ, from Greek 'Christos' = anointed one
- Kristopher variant spelling of Christopher, from Greek Christophoros = 'bearing Christ'
- Kross modern American coinage, a respelling of Cross, the English word and surname for someone who lived by a wayside cross
- Krue modern American coinage, a K- respelling of Crew, from the English word crew = a band of people, ultimately Old French 'creue' = increase, reinforcement
- Kruz modern respelling of Cruz, from Spanish 'cruz' = cross, from Latin 'crux'
- Kya modern American respelling of Kaia or Kia; no older documented root
- Kyaire modern American coinage on the Ky- pattern (compare Kyree, Kyrie) with a French-looking '-aire' ending; no established older root
- Kyla feminine form of Kyle, from the Scottish Gaelic 'caol' = narrow, a strait or channel
- Kylan modern American coinage in the Ky- + -lan pattern (compare Kylen, Rylan); no older documented root
- Kyle Scottish surname from a place name, from Gaelic 'caol' = narrow, a strait or sound
- Kyleigh modern American respelling of Kylie or Kyle, from the Scottish Gaelic 'caol' = narrow, a strait
- Kylen modern coinage extending Kyle with the -len ending; Kyle is from Scottish Gaelic 'caol' = narrow, a strait
- Kyler modern American name, either a blend of Kyle and Tyler or a respelling of the Dutch surname Cuyler; root debated
- Kylian French spelling of the Irish Cillian/Killian; the root is debated, read either as 'ceall' = church or as a diminutive of 'ciall' = sense
- Kylie Australian name, either from an Aboriginal (Nyungar) word for a boomerang or a feminine elaboration of Kyle, from Gaelic 'caol' = narrow, a strait; root debated
- Kylo modern invented name, created for the character Kylo Ren in the 2015 film Star Wars: The Force Awakens; no older root
- Kyomi modern respelling of the Japanese Kiyomi, most often written with characters read 'pure' + 'beauty'; the sense depends on the kanji chosen
- Kyree modern respelling of Kyrie, from Greek 'kyrie' = O Lord, the vocative of 'kyrios' = lord, as in the prayer Kyrie eleison
- Kyren modern respelling of Kieran/Ciaran, from Irish 'ciar' = dark, black + a diminutive ending
- Kyrie from Greek 'kyrie' = 'O Lord', the vocative of 'kyrios' = lord, taken from the Kyrie eleison of Christian liturgy
- Kyro modern American coinage in the Ky- pattern (compare Kairo, Kylo); no older documented root
- Kyson modern American coinage, Ky- with the -son suffix pattern (compare Bryson, Grayson); no older documented root
Only names carrying a meaning note are listed here. Popularity-only records exist for many more spellings and are reachable through the full directory search.
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