When choosing the perfect baby name, sometimes one letter just feels right. If something about the letter K calls to you, you’ve found the right place. We compiled fun baby girl names that start with K to kickstart your search.
Alas, Karen didn’t make the cut. Instead of asking for the manager, check out 30 of the most popular K baby girl names of the year.
Kennedy
Origin: Gaelic
Kennedy is a fun unisex name that was inspired by the surname of one of the most beloved presidents of all time, John F. Kennedy.
It comes from the Irish Gaelic name Cinnéidigh, which means “helmeted chief.”
Kylie
Origin: Gaelic
Remember when every other boy seemed to be named Kyle? Some parents loved the name so much that they used the feminine form, Kylie, for their daughters.
It’s a Scottish name meaning “boomerang,” and this playful name is also the name of Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue.
Kali
Origin: Sanskrit
Kali might have sunny, California vibes to it, but it’s actually a popular Indian name that means “energy.” It can also mean “dark-skinned” goddess.
Kalia is a popular alternative.
Kaia
Origin: Multiple origins
The name Kaia has more roots than one, and all of them are cool. In Greek, Kaia means “earth,” while in Scandinavian countries it means “life.”
Kaia can also be used as a variant of the Hawaiian name Kai, meaning sea. It was rare before the 21st century, when supermodel Cindy Crawford selected it for her daughter.
Kiara
Origin: Irish
The Irish name Kiara means, simply, “dark-haired.” It’s a perfect name for little ones born with a full head of jet-black hair, and Keira makes a lovely, Keira Knightly-inspired alternative.
“Pirates of the Caribbean” movie marathon, anyone?
Kamila
Origin: Arabic
Kamila has multiple origins, but the Arabic meaning of the name is our favorite. It means “perfect one” or “complete.”
What better message to send to your new baby than that they are enough, just as they are?
Kinsley
Origin: English
The name Kinsley means “king’s meadow.” It’s both cute and classy, and currently stands as one of Britain’s top girl names starting with K.
If you’re willing to consider other first letters, Tinsley sounds even more unique.
Katherine
Origin: Greek
Katherine is a traditional name that’s been around as long as we can remember. It came from the Greek adjective “katharos,” meaning “pure.”
It was a popular name for saints and martyrs, but there are also a fair number of powerful queens who were named Katherine. If the full name sounds too formal, Katie makes a fun nickname.
Kayla
Origin: Greek
The name Kayla isn’t as popular as it used to be, but that just means it’s due for a revival. Kayla is a combination of the name Kay, meaning “to rejoice,” and Ayla, meaning “oak tree.”
It first appeared in the United States in 1824, and it remains a popular name in New Zealand, Canada and Egypt.
Kora
Origin: Greek
Kora is one of our favorite baby girl names that start with K. When you first hear it, you might imagine a coral reef along a thriving seabed, but its Greek roots actually translate to “heart” and “maiden.”
Its modern form was first found in the novel “The Last of the Mohicans,” written by American writer James Fenimore Cooper in 1826.
Kelsey
Origin: English
The name Kelsey is, unsurprisingly, an English name. It most likely comes from the Old English name Ceolsige, which translated to “ship’s victory.” It’s also possible that this sweet baby girl name starting with K came from the word “cenel,” meaning “fierce island.”
Regardless, we love the way it sounds, and so do all the hundreds of parents who have selected it for their baby girls.
Kira
Origin: Latin
Kira, an exotic-sounding name popular in many Slavic countries and Ireland, has more meanings than one. In Slavic culture, it means “strong woman”, while in Ireland it means “dark-haired.”
It also means “glittery and shiny” in Japanese. It can also be spelled “Kyra.”
Which version of Kira is your favorite?
Kenzie
Origin: Scottish
Kenzie is as Scottish as a name can get. This fiery baby girl name comes from the Scottish and Gaelic surname “McKenzie.” It has since evolved into a given name for girls, usually spelled “Mackenzie,” along with the shorter Kenzie.
It means “bright, fair one,” and it’s a particularly popular name in families with Scottish or Irish heritage.
Kaitlyn
Origin: Greek and Irish
Kaitlyn was an extremely popular baby girl name in the 1990s and much of the 2000s, so if you’re tired of it, we don’t blame you. The name may be overused, but it’s still a popular name in many countries, particularly Canada.
Kaitlyn, along with the variant Caitlyn, came from Ireland and means “pure.”
Kamryn
Origin: Scottish
Kamryn is a modification of the Scottish surname Cameron, meaning “crooked nose.” Despite the comical origin story, Kamryn has been a popular girls name for decades.
Some elect to shorten it to the short and sweet “Kami” for a feminine pet name.
Karina
Origin: Russian
Have you noticed how many girl names mean “pure?” Add Karina to the list. It comes from the traditional Greek name Katherine, a popular one among saints and priestesses.
While purity culture is very much still an issue, purity can also represent being kind, loving and pure of heart.
Katalina
Origin: Greek
Yet another variant of Katherine, Katalina also means “pure.” Katalina is also, however, tied to the name Catalina, a popular island getaway off the Southern California coast.
Because of its association with the beautiful, blue-skied, sandy-beached island, the name Katalina represents beauty and a sunny personality.
Kelly
Origin: Irish
While the K baby girl name Kelly is so common that it might seem American in origin, it’s actually an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Ó Ceallaigh, meaning “descendant of Ceallach.”
Kelly remains the most common surname in Ireland, but it was later used as an Irish given name, meaning “bright-headed.” Whether that’s referring to hair color or intelligence is entirely up to you.
Kassidy
Origin: Scottish
Kassidy is a variant of the name Cassidy, which comes from the Irish name Caiside, meaning “clever.” It was most popular in the 1990s, but the name is rising once again.
For more unique spellings, try Kassidi or Cassadee.
Kenna
Origin: Scottish
Kenna is usually considered the feminine form of the name Kenneth, a Scottish name meaning “handsome one” or “born of fire.” Either name is pretty epic, if you ask us.
While Kenneth is popular worldwide, Kenna is a newer name that’s mostly used in the United States. Kenna can also be used as a nickname for McKenna.
Karter
Origin: English
Carter began as one of those surnames that explained one’s profession. It meant “transporter of goods by cart” — not the most exciting, but very useful. The name Carter became increasingly popular in the ’90s, in part due to the popularity of pop singer Aaron Carter.
When Carter became too common, parents started shaking things up by changing the first letter to a K.
Kaydence
Origin: American
The name Kaydence is usually considered to be a respelling of the girl name Cadence. Cadence is a common musical term, so it’s a fantastic pick for a child born into a family of musicians.
For a nickname, the single-syllable “Kay” does the job nicely.
Kristina
Origin: Greek
Kristina and its cousin Kristin are both variations of the name Christina, meaning “follower of Christ.”
While this girl name starting with K may have religious roots, it has been chosen by hundreds of parents over the years from a number of faiths. If Kristina doesn’t feel quite right, consider Krystal instead.
Kamille
Origin: Latin and French
Kamille, a variation of the popular French name Camille, has Latin roots meaning “helper to the priest.” That’s likely because the name Camilla was found in Virgil’s famous poem, “The Aeneid,” in which a woman named Camilla dedicated her life to serving the goddess Diana. She was raised as a warrior and remained chaste, focused only on carrying out her oath to Diana.
Camilla evolved into Camille, which is still the eighth-most popular French name for girls today. Americans tend to emphasize individuality, so the K variation is most popular in the U.S.
Karma
Origin: Indian
Karma is both a word and a name of Hindi and Sanskrit origin, and it’s one of the coolest on this list. It means “fate,” symbolizing the effects of the actions we take during life.
Bullies better think twice before they mess with baby Karma, or karma will get them back in the end.
Kassandra
Origin: Greek
The regal name Kassandra sounds royal, and that’s because it is. It comes from the name Cassandra, meaning “to shine,” which was first used in an ancient Greek myth. According to the stories, Cassandra was a Trojan princess who was given the ability to predict the future by the god Apollo.
Maybe baby Cassandra will be a prophetess too. Who knows? Either way, she’s welcome to go by the sweet nickname Cassie if Cassandra is too long for everyday use.
Kamora
Origin: American
No one is entirely sure where the name Kamora came from, but it does happen to be a brand of coffee liqueur made in Mexico. It’s similar to Kahlúa only slightly less sweet.
If Kamora and coffee on Christmas day helped bring baby Kamora into existence, no judgment. Just be prepared for her to cringe at her name’s funny backstory.
Kenley
Origin: English
Kenley sounds like a cross between Kennedy and Henley. It’s actually a region in South London, and likely meant “well-known clearing.”
Since the two obvious nicknames, Ken or Lee, are on the masculine side, consider using Kendra as a nickname instead.
Karlie
Origin: Scandinavian
The baby name Carly was a favorite for much of the early 2000s, and it got a second wind thanks to the beloved Nickelodeon series “iCarly.” It comes from the Scandinavian word meaning “free.”
For a fresh take on Carly, try the respelling “Karlie,” which is much less overdone than its predecessor.
Keilani
Origin: Hawaiian
Keilani, a popular Hawaiian K baby girl name, has multiple meanings, and all of them are delightful. Depending on the context (and who you ask), Keilani means sky, glorious or royal one.
Keilani can also be shortened to Lani, meaning heaven.