Some K names feel short and lively, like Kai and Knox, while others have a more familiar, lasting quality, like Kenneth and Kevin. That range makes K an interesting letter to consider when naming your baby boy.

This list of boy names that start with K includes a meaning or origin for each name. As you narrow your favorites, try saying them with your last name and thinking about the nicknames you might naturally use.

Boy Names That Start With K

The names are grouped by style, and each section is alphabetized so you can compare your favorites more easily.

10 Popular Boy Names That Start With K

According to 2025 data from the Social Security Administration, these K boy names ranked in the U.S. top 1,000. They are listed alphabetically, not by rank.¹

1. Kai — A Hawaiian name meaning “sea.”

2. Karter — This is an English occupational name for someone who transports goods by cart.

3. Kayden — English for “battle.”

4. Keith — A Scottish name meaning “wood.”

5. Kenneth — Scottish for “born of fire” and Irish for “handsome.”

6. Kevin — This name means “handsome” in Irish.

7. King — An English name meaning “monarch.”

8. Kingston — English for “king’s town.”

9. Knox — This Scottish name means “round hill.”

10. Kyle — The meaning of this Scottish name is “narrow spit of land.”

14 Modern Boy Names That Start With K

1. Kaiser — German for “emperor.”

2. Kaydence — Latin for “rhythm” or “beat.”

3. Kelly — An Irish name meaning “war.”

4. Kendall — This name means “valley of the river Kent” in English.

5. Kenji — A Japanese name whose meaning depends on the kanji used.

6. Kennedy — This Irish name means “misshapen head.”

7. Knight — This name means “a mounted man at arms serving a feudal superior” in English.

8. Knowledge — English for information, understanding, and awareness gained through experience or education.

9. Kooper — This is an English occupational name for a barrel maker.

10. Kosmo — A spelling variant of Cosmo, from the Greek word kosmos, meaning “order” or “universe.”

11. Krew — A modern spelling of Crew, an English word name for a group of people working together.

12. Kross — A modern spelling of Cross, an English word name.

13. Krown — A modern spelling of Crown, an English word name associated with royalty.

14. Kruz — Spanish for “cross.”

26 Cool Boy Names That Start With K

1. Kalel — A modern name inspired by Kal-El, Superman’s Kryptonian birth name.

2. Kallen — A modern spelling variant of Callan, a name derived from an Irish surname.

3. Kamden — A Scottish name meaning “winding valley.”

4. Karl — This German and Scandinavian name means “free man.”

5. Karney — This name means “warlike” or “soldier” in Gaelic.

6. Keanu — Hawaiian for “cool breeze.”

7. Keegan — An Irish name meaning “son of Egan.”

8. Keir — This Irish name means “dark” or “black.”

9. Kelso — A Scottish name meaning “chalk ridge.”

10. Ken — A Japanese name whose meaning depends on the kanji used; it is also a short form of Kenneth.

11. Kenai — A place name associated with Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula.

12. Kendrick — English for “royal ruler” and Scottish for “champion.”

13. Kendrix — A modern spelling variant of Kendrick.

14. Kensington — An English name meaning “town of Cynsige’s people.”

15. Kent — The meaning of this name is “edge” in English.

16. Kieran — This Irish name means “little dark one.”

17. Killian — Irish for “war strife” or “church.”

18. Kirk — A Norse name meaning “church.”

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19. Knowles — English for “one who lives by the knoll.”

20. Koa — This name means “warrior” in Hawaiian.

21. Kolt — English for “young horse.”

22. Konner, Konnor — This name means “lover of hounds” in Irish.

23. Kristoff — Greek and Latin for “bearer of Christ.”

24. Kujo — Japanese for “ninth street.”

25. Kumar — This name means “boy” or “son” in Sanskrit.

26. Kunal — A modern form of Kunala, a Sanskrit name meaning “lotus.”

10 Common Boy Names That Start With K

1. Kairo — Arabic for “conqueror.”

2. Kaleb — This name means “devotion to God” in Hebrew.

3. Kameron — A Scottish name meaning “crooked nose.”

4. Kane — Celtic for “warrior.”

5. Karson — Scottish and English for “son of the marsh dwellers.”

6. Kash — A modern spelling variant of Cash.

7. Khalil — This name means “friend” in Arabic.

8. Kingsley — English for “king’s meadow.”

9. Kobe — Swahili for “tortoise.”

10. Kyrie — A Greek name meaning “lord.”

21 Badass Boy Names That Start With K

1. Kamari — This name means “moonlight” in Swahili.

2. Kareem — Arabic for “noble” or “generous.”

3. Karlssen — A Scandinavian name meaning “Carl’s son.”

4. Kasi — A South Indian form of Kashi.

5. Kavanaugh — An Irish name meaning “born handsome” or “son of Caomhan.”

6. Kaz — A short form of names such as Kazimir.

7. Kepler — A German occupational surname associated with a maker of hoods or cloaks.

8. Kerrington — An English name meaning “of Carenton.”

9. Ketch — An English word name for a two-masted sailing vessel.

10. Khalid — Arabic for “immortal” or “everlasting.”

11. Khari — A West African name meaning “kingly.”

12. Kiefer — This is a German occupational name for a barrel maker.

13. Kijani — A Swahili word name meaning “green.”

14. Kilmer — German for “famous sacrifice.”

15. Kincaid — A Scottish name meaning “steep place” or “of the head of battle.”

16. Klaus — This name means “people of victory” in German.

17. Kodiak — An Alutiiq name meaning “island.”

18. Koen — This Dutch name means “bold adviser.”

19. Kolby — English for “coal town.”

20. Korbin — Latin for “crow.”

21. Kronos — The Greek name of a Titan; its original meaning is uncertain.

10 Country Boy Names That Start With K

1. Kade — An English name meaning “round” or “barrel.”

2. Kayce — A spelling variant of Casey, an Irish name traditionally associated with “watchful.”

3. Keaton — This name means “shed town” in English.

4. Kellan — German for “swamp” and Irish for “slender.”

5. Kennon — An Irish name meaning “ancient.”

6. Kenny — Scottish for “born of fire” and Irish for “handsome.”

7. Kidd — English for “kid” and Scottish for “young goat.”

8. Kip — This name means “bearer of Christ” in Greek and Latin.

9. Kit — English for “bearer of Christ.”

10. Kolten, Kolton — This name means “from the coal or dark town” in English.

8 Biblical and Faith-Inspired Boy Names That Start With K

1. Kain — A form of Cain, a Hebrew name possibly meaning “acquired.”

2. Kaspar — A Persian name meaning “treasurer,” traditionally associated with one of the Magi.

3. Kemuel — This name means “helper of God” in Hebrew.

4. Kenan — Hebrew for “possession.”

5. Kenaniah — This name means “Yahweh establishes” in Hebrew.

6. Kerioth — A Hebrew name meaning “cities.”

7. Korah — Hebrew for “bald” or “baldness.”

8. Kornelius — A spelling variant of Cornelius, a Latin name meaning “horn.”

26 International Boy Names That Start With K

For Japanese names, the meaning can vary according to the kanji used. The translations below reflect common interpretations rather than the only possible meanings.

1. Kabelo — This name means “gift” in Tswana.

2. Kabuto — Japanese for “helmet” or “armor.”

3. Kadek — This name means “younger sibling” in Balinese.

4. Kael — An Irish name meaning “slender.”

5. Kahurangi — This name means “sky blue” in Māori.

6. Kaio — A Japanese name whose meaning depends on the kanji used.

7. Kairos — Greek for “opportune moment” or “serendipity.”

8. Kalei — Hawaiian for “flowers” or “child.”

9. Kamea — A Hawaiian name meaning “precious one.”

10. Kapono — This name means “the good” in Hawaiian.

11. Kasimiro — Spanish for “destroyer of peace” and Polish for “bringer of peace.”

12. Kauai — A Hawaiian place name associated with the island of Kauaʻi; its original meaning is uncertain.

13. Kazumi — Japanese for “beautiful peace.”

14. Kendi — This name means “loved one” in Swahili.

15. Kenjiro — A Japanese name whose meaning depends on the kanji used.

16. Kenshi — A Japanese name whose meaning depends on the kanji used.

17. Kenya — The meaning of this name is “mountain of white” in Kikuyu.

18. Kenzo — A Japanese name whose meaning depends on the kanji used.

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19. Kham — This name means “gold” in Lao.

20. Khepri — This Egyptian name means “develop” or “create.”

21. Kiango — This name means “light” or “lamp” in Swahili.

22. Kofi — An Akan day name traditionally given to a boy born on Friday.

23. Kuro — A Japanese name whose meaning depends on the kanji used.

24. Kwadwo — An Akan day name traditionally given to a boy born on Monday.

25. Kwame — An Akan day name traditionally given to a boy born on Saturday.

26. Kyriakos — A Greek name meaning “of the lord.”

37 Unique Boy Names That Start With K

1. Kabir — An Arabic name meaning “the great.”

2. Kadeen — English for “round” or “barrel.”

3. Kadmus — This name means “from the east” in Greek.

4. Kahanu — This Hawaiian name means “the breath.”

5. Kaimi — A Hawaiian name meaning “the seeker.”

6. Kairne — Scottish and Gaelic for “mound of rocks.”

7. Kaliber — English for “ability level.”

8. Kalvin — Latin for “bald.”

9. Kam — A Scottish name meaning “crooked nose.”

10. Kamdyn — This Scottish name means “winding valley.”

11. Kaplan — A Turkish name meaning “tiger.”

12. Karel — A Czech name meaning “free man.”

13. Karmel — Hebrew for “garden.”

14. Karp — This is a Yiddish occupational name for a carp fisherman.

15. Karr — A Scandinavian name meaning “from the swampy place.”

16. Kateb — An Arabic name meaning “scribe” or “writer.”

17. Kaufman — German for “merchant.”

18. Keagan — An Irish name meaning “son of Egan.”

19. Kearns — This name means “dark” in Gaelic.

20. Keats — English for “kite.”

21. Keenan — This Irish name means “ancient.”

22. Kelcey — English for “Cenel’s island.”

23. Kemen — This name means “vigor” in Basque.

24. Kermit — An Irish name meaning “free man.”

25. Kian — This name means “ancient” in Irish.

26. Kimble — The meaning of this name is “warrior chief” in Welsh.

27. Kindred — English for “family” or “connectedness.”

28. Kirby — A Norse name meaning “church settlement.”

29. Klaudio — Latin for “lame.”

30. Kline — The meaning of this name is “small” in German.

31. Kohen — Hebrew for “priest.”

32. Kriss — Greek for “bearing Christ.”

33. Kristian — A Greek name meaning “follower of Christ.”

34. Kristopher — This name also means “follower of Christ” in Greek.

35. Kshitij — The meaning of this name is “born of the earth” in Sanskrit.

36. Kylan — This name means “narrow” in Gaelic.

37. Kyson — An English name meaning “son of Kyle.”

57 Rare Boy Names That Start With K

1. Kadeer — A spelling variant of Qadir, an Arabic name meaning “capable,” “powerful,” or “mighty.”

2. Kaden — English for “round” or “barrel.”

3. Kaemon — A Japanese name whose meaning depends on the kanji used.

4. Kahil — This name means “friend” in Arabic.

5. Kaihe — A Hawaiian name meaning “spear.”

6. Kalyan — This name means “beautiful” or “auspicious.”

7. Kame — Japanese for “turtle.”

8. Kamon — This name means “heart” or “mind” in Thai.

9. Kamren — A Scottish name meaning “crooked nose.”

10. Kamuela — The Hawaiian form of Samuel, a Hebrew name often interpreted as “God has heard.”

11. Kaniela — Hawaiian for “God is my judge.”

12. Kanki — A Japanese name whose meaning depends on the kanji used.

13. Kardama — A Sanskrit name associated with a sage in Hindu tradition.

14. Karlson — A Scandinavian name meaning “Carl’s son.”

15. Karmi — This name means “my vineyard” in Hebrew.

16. Karo — A Finnish name meaning “free man.”

17. Karolek — A Polish diminutive of Karol, a name meaning “free man.”

18. Karsen — English and Scottish for “son of the marsh dwellers.”

19. Karuna — This name means “compassion” in Sanskrit.

20. Kary — An Irish name meaning “dark” or “black.”

21. Kawa — This name means “river” in Japanese.

22. Kaysen, Kayson — A Scottish name meaning “son of the marsh dwellers.”

23. Kazimierz — This Slavic name means “destroyer of peace.”

24. Keefer — This is a German occupational name for a barrel maker.

25. Keeghan — An Irish name meaning “son of Egan.”

26. Kelbie — English for “dweller at the farm by the stream.”

27. Kelvon — A Scottish name meaning “narrow or wooded river.”

28. Kendel — This name means “the Kent river valley” in English.

29. Kenichi — A Japanese name whose meaning depends on the kanji used.

30. Kennard — This name means “royal protector” in English.

31. Kenner — English for “brave chieftain.”

32. Kennet — Scottish for “born of fire” and Irish for “handsome.”

33. Kentaro — A Japanese name whose meaning depends on the kanji used.

34. Keola — This Hawaiian name means “the life.”

35. Kerby — A Norse name meaning “church settlement.”

36. Kerrick — This name means “king’s rule” in English.

37. Kerrie — This Irish name means “dark-haired.”

38. Keyvan — An Iranian name meaning “universe.”

39. Khadim — This Arabic name means “servant.”

40. Kile — A Scottish name meaning “narrow spit of land.”

41. Kilo — This Hawaiian name means “one who observes the stars.”

42. Kimber — English for “Cyneburga’s meadow.”

43. Kinsleigh — Old English for “king’s meadow.”

44. Klaudiusz — The Polish form of Claudius, a Roman name possibly derived from a Latin word meaning “lame.”

45. Knoll — English for “dweller near the hill” and German for “lump.”

46. Knute — A Norse name meaning “knot.”

47. Kole — This name means “swarthy” or “coal black” in English.

48. Kordel — This is an Old French occupational name for a cord maker.

49. Kosmas — Greek for “universe.”

50. Krish — This name means “dark” or “black” in Sanskrit.

51. Kristmas — This is a rare spelling of “Christmas,” which is Middle English for “mass of Christ.”

52. Kroll — German for “curly-haired.”

53. Kwaw — This name means “born on Thursday” in Akan.

54. Kye — A modern spelling variant of Kai.

55. Kyng — This name means “monarch” in English.

56. Kyree — Greek for “lord.”

57. Kyzer — German for “emperor.”

After you narrow the list, try each name in everyday situations. Say it with your last name, write out the initials, and consider the nicknames you would naturally use. A favorite may become easier to spot after you sit with your shortlist for a few days.

For more ideas, visit our baby names hub or continue with the related name lists below.

• Modern Baby Boy Names
• Cool Baby Boy Names
• Badass Baby Boy Names
• Country Baby Boy Names
• Biblical Baby Boy Names
• Unique Baby Boy Names
• Rare Baby Boy Names
• Baby Names With Great Nicknames