K Boy Names
The letter K gives a name a crisp, confident start. It shows up in ancient royal names like Kenneth, in modern hits like Kai and Kingston, and in some of the best names from Irish, Hawaiian, Japanese and Arabic. Every name on this page starts with K, and each one comes with its meaning and origin.
There are more than 90 K names below, grouped by style. For boy names by other first letters, go back to boy names or try boy names that start with J. Naming a daughter? See girl names that start with K.
Popular K boy names
The K names parents are choosing most right now. Many of them rank in the US top 200.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Kai | Sea | Hawaiian |
| Kingston | King’s town | English |
| Knox | Round hill | Scottish |
| Kayden | Companion (possibly); modern blend | Modern American |
| Kyrie | Lord (as in Kyrie eleison) | Greek |
| Kairo | From Cairo, “the victorious” | Arabic place name |
| Karter | Cart driver | English |
| Kaiden | Fighter (possibly); modern variant of Caden | Modern American |
| Kyle | Narrow strait | Scottish |
| Kevin | Handsome, gentle birth | Irish |
| Kaleb | Faithful, whole-hearted (from Caleb) | Hebrew |
| King | Monarch | English |
| Kenzo | Strong and healthy (varies by kanji) | Japanese |
| Kash | Variant of Cash | English |
Classic and vintage K names
Traditional names that have been around for generations.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Kenneth | Handsome, born of fire | Scottish |
| Keith | Wood, forest | Scottish |
| Karl | Free man | German |
| Kurt | Bold counsel (from Konrad) | German |
| Kermit | Son of Diarmaid | Irish |
| Kent | Border, coastal land | English |
| Kirk | Church | Scottish/Norse |
| Kendall | Valley of the River Kent | English |
| Kelvin | Narrow water (the River Kelvin) | Scottish |
| Kingsley | King’s meadow | English |
| Konrad | Bold counsel | German/Polish |
| Kasper | Treasurer | Persian via German |
| Karsten | Christian, follower of Christ | German/Danish |
| Kennard | Royal and brave (possibly) | Old English |
Irish and Scottish K names
Gaelic names are some of the best-loved K names. Some keep their original spelling. More in Irish boy names and Scottish boy names.
| Name | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Kieran | KEER-an | Little dark one |
| Killian | KIL-ee-an | Little church; bright-headed (debated) |
| Keegan | KEE-gan | Son of Egan, “little fire” |
| Kian | KEE-an | Ancient |
| Kellan | KEL-an | Slender (possibly); church |
| Kane | KAYN | Warrior, battle |
| Kennedy | KEN-a-dee | Helmeted head (possibly) |
| Kerr | KUR | Dweller by the marsh |
| Kenzie | KEN-zee | Son of Coinneach (from Mackenzie) |
| Keenan | KEE-nan | Little ancient one |
| Kester | KES-ter | Bearer of Christ (Scots form of Christopher) |
| Kavanagh | KAV-a-naw | Follower of Saint Caomhán |
Strong K names
Bold names with powerful meanings. See also strong boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Kaiser | Emperor (from Caesar) | German |
| Khalid | Eternal, immortal | Arabic |
| Kasimir | Destroyer or proclaimer of peace (debated) | Polish |
| Konstantin | Steadfast, constant | Latin/Slavic |
| Kenan | Possession | Hebrew |
| Krishna | Dark, all-attractive | Sanskrit |
| Khan | Ruler, leader | Turkic/Mongolian |
| Kratos | Strength, power | Greek |
| Kemal | Perfection, maturity | Turkish/Arabic |
| Kallias | Beauty (from kallos) | Greek |
| Ketil | Helmet, cauldron | Norse |
| Kwame | Born on Saturday | Akan (Ghana) |
Short K boy names
One or two syllables and very easy to say. Browse short boy names for other letters.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Kit | Bearer of Christ (from Christopher) | English |
| Koa | Brave, warrior; the koa tree | Hawaiian |
| Kip | Pointed hill | English |
| Kade | Of the wetlands (possibly) | Scottish |
| Kase | Modern form of Case | Modern |
| Kean | Ancient, distant | Irish |
| Kaz | Short for Kasimir | Polish |
| Ken | Handsome (from Kenneth) | Scottish |
| Knut | Knot | Norse |
| Kurtis | Courteous | French |
| Kyler | Archer (from Dutch Kuyler) | Dutch |
| Kobe | Heel (from Jacob); also a Japanese city | Hebrew/Japanese |
K boy names from around the world
K names from Japan, Africa, Hawaii, the Arab world and beyond that are easy to use in English.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Kenji | Strong second son (varies by kanji) | Japanese |
| Kaito | Ocean, soaring (varies by kanji) | Japanese |
| Kofi | Born on Friday | Akan (Ghana) |
| Kojo | Born on Monday | Akan (Ghana) |
| Kamau | Quiet warrior | Kikuyu (Kenya) |
| Kalani | The heavens | Hawaiian |
| Keanu | Cool breeze | Hawaiian |
| Kekoa | The brave one | Hawaiian |
| Karim | Generous, noble | Arabic |
| Khalil | Friend | Arabic |
| Kiran | Ray of light | Sanskrit |
| Kazuki | Harmony, hope (varies by kanji) | Japanese |
| Kostas | Steadfast (from Konstantinos) | Greek |
| Kristof | Bearer of Christ | Hungarian |
| Kiril | Lordly | Slavic |
| Kagiso | Peace | Tswana (Botswana) |
| Kaan | Ruler, king | Turkish |
| Kaleo | The voice | Hawaiian |
Surname-style K names
Last names that work well as first names, with a preppy or modern feel.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Keaton | Place of hawks | English |
| Kendrick | Royal ruler (English); son of Henry (Welsh) | English/Welsh |
| Kipling | Kippel’s place | English |
| Kershaw | Church wood | English |
| Kimball | Royal bold (possibly) | Welsh/English |
| Knight | Knight, soldier | English |
| Kinsley | King’s meadow (variant) | English |
| Kirby | Church settlement | Norse/English |
| Kellerman | Cellar keeper | German |
| Kinnear | Head of the moor | Scottish |
How to choose a K name for your son
- Pick your K sound. K names can open with a hard “K” (Kieran), a “Kw” sound (Kwame) or a soft Japanese syllable (Kaito). Say a few aloud to find the one you like.
- Watch the C/K spelling. Many K names have C twins (Kaleb/Caleb, Karter/Carter). The C version is usually more common. The K version stands out but gets misspelled.
- Avoid alliteration overload. Kai King or Knox Kennedy can be fun, but a K surname plus a K first name may feel like a brand. Try it out loud first.
- Add a softer middle name. K names are punchy, so a flowing middle name balances them: Knox Everett, Kai Nathaniel. See boy middle names.
- Check meaning and roots. If you pick a Hawaiian, Japanese or Irish name, learn its correct pronunciation and meaning. For Japanese names the meaning depends on the kanji chosen.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most popular boy names that start with K?
Kai, Kingston, Knox, Kayden, Kyrie, Kairo and Karter are among the most popular K boy names in the US right now.
What is a strong boy name that starts with K?
Kaiser (emperor), Khalid (eternal), Kane (warrior), Kratos (strength) and Kekoa (the brave one) all have powerful meanings.
What are unique K names for boys?
Kester, Kasimir, Kallias, Kinnear, Ketil and Kekoa are rare in the US but have real history and meaning.
What does Kai mean?
Kai means “sea” in Hawaiian. It is also a traditional name in Frisian and Scandinavian countries and a Japanese name, with different meanings in each.
Are there biblical boy names starting with K?
K names are rare in the Bible because of how Hebrew is transliterated, but Kenan (Genesis 5) is one. Caleb and Kaleb and other C/K variants are also popular.