Best Baby Boy Names That Start With K

From the short and punchy Kai to the celebrity-inspired Keanu, the options for boy names that start with K are endless.

Baby names that represent kindness and patience are all well and good, but babies born into today’s world need a little attitude to balance it out. Baby boy names that start with K have attitude built into their DNA.

Many of them started with the letter C, before kicking it out and replacing it with a K. That’s some chaotic good energy if ever we’ve seen it. If that’s what you’re going for in a name, these are the top boy names that start with K.

Kai

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Origin: Multiple origins

Kai, pronounced “Kye,” is a fantastic boy’s name because it has so many different meanings to choose from.

In Welsh culture, it means “keeper of keys,” Meanwhile in Europe, it’s said to come from the longer name Kaimbe, meaning “warrior.”

Travel to the sandy beaches of Hawaii, and Kai means “sea” instead.

Kaleb

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Origin: Hebrew

Kaleb has been a popular name for baby boys for centuries. It was originally spelled “Caleb,” meaning “tenacious.”

Caleb is also the name of a biblical character in the Old Testament.

Kamden

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Origin: English

Kamden is an American remake of the British Camden, which means winding valley. It’s also the name of a city in New Jersey and an area of London.

The respelling with the letter K shifts it away from a place name, but both spellings are popular.

Kameron

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Origin: Scottish

The name Cameron began as a Scottish surname meaning “crooked nose.” It was a popular boys’ name for decades, but in the 1990s, it became more widely used as a name for baby girls.

For this reason, some parents choose the slightly more masculine respelling “Kameron” for baby boys.

Kane

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Origin: Irish

Kane is a baby name packed with attitude and grit. The name’s Gaelic roots mean “little battler,” making it well-suited for babies born prematurely.

Once a fighter, always a fighter.

Kareem

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Origin: Arabic

Kareem is an Arabic name meaning “generous and giving.”

If the wholesome meaning isn’t enough, it’s also the name of several legendary athletes, including running back Kareem Hunt and basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Karter

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Origin: English

The meaning of the name Karter is more obvious when you look at its more common spelling, “Carter.” It has a literal meaning, beginning as a title for people who transported goods by cart.

Carter is still more popular on name lists, but Karter with a K is on the rise now that more parents are looking for unique names and spellings.

Kayden

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Origin: Arabic

Kayden means “companion” in Arabic, and it’s far from the only spelling option. It originated from the name Caden, but popular alternative spellings include Cayden, Kaiden and Kaden.

“Kaiden” is arguably the best choice for nickname options, since it can easily be shortened to “Kai.”

Kayson

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Origin: American

Kayden, Kayson. What’s the difference? The two names sound awfully similar, but their meanings are quite different.

Kayson has Latin and Greek roots meaning “healer.” The world could always use more of those.

Keanu

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Origin: Hawaiian

Made popular by timeless actor Keanu Reeves, the name Keanu means “breeze” in Hawaiian.

Considering Keanu Reeves looks almost exactly the same today as he did the day “The Matrix” was released, we’d say it’s a pretty lucky name to carry.

Keaton

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Origin: Old English

Keaton, historically used as a surname, means “place of hawks.” Hawks are powerful birds of prey, so the name Keaton represents strength and fearlessness.

It’s also the last name of Michael Keaton, an American actor best known for playing Batman.

Keegan

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Origin: Irish

The name Keegan started out as an uncommon Irish name, but in the past decade it’s become a popular, creative-sounding name for baby boys.

Derived from the surname MacAodhagáin, it means “small flame” or “son of fire.”

Keenan

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Origin: Irish

Similar to Keegan, Keenan is an English version of a Gaelic name, Ó Cianáin. It means “fair son” or “ancient.”

Good-looking and wise aren’t the worst legacy to pass on.

Kellen

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Origin: Gaelic

The melodic sounding name Kellen can be used as a name for both boys and girls.

In Gaelic, it translates to “slender.”

Kendall

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Origin: British

Like Kellen, Kendall is a unisex name. This one comes from an Old English name for the Kent river valley.

It started out as a surname, but it has been used as a given name since the 1800s.

Kendrick

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Origin: Welsh

Like many boy names starting with K, Kendrick began as a surname. It means “great champion,” and as a first name, it has totally lived up to the hype.

Rapper Kendrick Lamar released his first album in 2013, and the regal sounding Kendrick has since flourished as a modern, somewhat British-sounding baby name.

Kennedy

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Origin: Irish

Kennedy started out as a common Irish surname meaning “armored,” made famous by the Kennedy family who dominated American politics for years.

While Kennedy is more popular as a girl’s name than a boy’s name, it can easily go both ways. It’s currently ranked 179th most popular on the baby name charts.

Kevin

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Origin: Irish

Kevin is one of the oldest baby boy names that start with K. It’s a common name in the U.S., but it originated in Ireland meaning “handsome beloved.”

The name arrived in the U.S. in the 1920s and has remained in the top 100 baby names ever since.

It’s the name of one of the patron saints of Dublin, along with the name of popular comedian Kevin Hart.

Killian

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Origin: Irish

Killian, pronounced “KIL-ee-an,” sounds sharp as a tack, and that’s because it is.

The Gaelic name means “bright-headed” or “quick-witted,” and it’s one of the more unique baby boy names starting with K.

Kingston

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Origin: Old English

Because it’s an English name, Kingston has one of the most obvious translations: King’s town. It’s the name of a city in New York, and it’s also ranked number 202 on the baby name charts.

This regal name is fantastic for parents who want a less common name that’s still easy to pronounce.

Knox

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Origin: British

Knox has been around as a surname since the 13th century, possibly earlier. It means “round-top hill,” probably referring to people who settled there.

It was very rare as a first name until Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie selected it as the name of one of their twins in 2008.

Koa

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Origin: Polynesian

Koa is one of our favorites for so many reasons. With deep roots in Hawaiian culture, it means “warrior” or “brave, fearless one.”

So much power in a mere three letters.

Kobe

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Origin: Multiple origins

Kobe has different meanings depending on who you ask. In the Bible, it was used as a nickname for Jacob, meaning “protected by God.” In Swahili, however, it means turtle, and it’s the name of a type of beef that originated in Japan.

Funky meanings aside, Kobe has become a bittersweet name after the passing of basketball star Kobe Bryant in 2020. If he’s still your favorite player, however, there’s no reason not to use it.

Kody

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Origin: British

The similar-sounding “Kody” sounds friendly and cheerful, and that’s because it is. The British boy name means “helpful.”

It can also be used as a name for girls.

Kole

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Origin: Slavic

Kole is a short version of the Slavic name Niklaus, meaning “victory of the people.”

When it’s spelled with a C, however, it means “coal.”

Kolton

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Origin: Old English

Another name made by swapping a C with a K, Kolton is a variation of the popular boy name Colton.

Colton means, simply, “coal town.” Colton is a much more common spelling, so Kolton is a great choice if individuality is a top priority.

Korbin

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Origin: French

Korbin, a baby boy name with French and Old English roots, means “little raven” or “raven-haired.” It was originally spelled “Corbin,” but spelling it with a K has become a trend among American parents.

While there aren’t too many famous Korbins, Corbin Bleu was quite the hit in the Disney original series “High School Musical.”

Kori

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Origin: Greek

Kori is related to a similar Greek girl’s name Kora, meaning coral or maiden.

The light and airy Kori can be either a boy or a girl name.

Kristopher

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Origin: Scandinavian

Kristopher is a Scandinavian and Greek version of the popular name Christopher. It means “bearing Christ,” but millennial parents might associate it more with the lovable character Kristoff from Disney’s “Frozen.”

Kyle

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Origin: Gaelic

Whether the Irish or the Scots are responsible for inventing the name Kyle, it’s been a common name in both countries for centuries. Meaning “straight and narrow,” Kyle is one of more recognizable baby boy names starting with K.

It can be used as a unisex name, or changed to Kylie for a girl.