Listen up… You’ve got to pick a good name for that baby, ‘K? While word on the street is that Karen is down for the count (or should we say kount?), there are plenty of classic and contemporary K names to consider. Our list has all the freshest K names to absolutely knock it out of the park for your little guy or gal! If you’re keen, take a look…

Boy Baby Names That Start With K

Kabir: An Arabic name meaning “the great,” it’s a gorgeous selection for a baby boy.

Kamari: This three-syllable K name for boys means “moonlight” in Swahili.

Kane: The Celtic name meaning “warrior” is also adjacent to the biblical name Cain, for an extra meaning (“spear”) and a more contemporary spelling. 

Kaiser: Growing in popularity in recent years, the German name is perfect for the tiniest new ruler of your household; Kaiser means “Emperor.”

Kaius: Even more rare than the spelling Caius, this handsomely unique name translates to “rejoice” in Latin. 

Kenton: The short version Kent is great on its own, but if you’d like a longer option for your little guy, the dignified Kenton—“the royal settlement”—is perfect. 

Kevin: He’s a classic, and we’ll never not love little Kevvy. This well-known name means “handsome” with Irish roots. 

Khalil: The perfect name for your little buddy, Khalil comes from Arabic and means “friend.”

Kian: Another Irish name peppering our K list, it’s a take on Cian and both mean “ancient.” 

Kingston: A princely pick for your baby boy, because who doesn’t love a royal name? Just as its spelling implies, this one means “king’s town.”

Kipling: What a cute idea for Baby; an English surname/place name which sounds refined yet sweet in long form and absolutely precious as a nickname, Kip. 

Knox: Any baby name containing an X is going to be popular with modern parents, and this Scottish baby boy name meaning “round hill” is no exception. Knox currently resides just outside the top 200 names for US-born baby boys, having risen fast in the past 10 years.  

Koda: The cool Japanese baby boy name meaning “friend” is an adorable K name for your new bestie.  

Girl Baby Names That Start With K

Kadence: Once rarely heard and now a steady chart climber, we love the musical word name in its original spelling or with a K; both refer to a rhythm and beat. 

Kaimana: One of the rarest names on our list with one of the most intricate and lovely meanings—it’s a Hawaiian baby girl name translating to “power of the ocean.”

Kali: At first glance, this girl’s name might give off breezy vibe (hello, Cali!), it’s got a powerful meaning. In Sanskrit, the name means “divine mother” and references the Hindu goddess of time, death, and change.

Karina: The original spelling Carina is Italian (translating to “little dear one”), but the K version is claimed by Scandinavian, German, Polish, and Russian cultures—it means “pure.” 

Katherine: It might be old-fashioned-sounding but modern parents still embrace this standby which also means “pure,” from the Greek. You can shorten it to all manner of cute K nicknames, like Kate, Katie, Kitty, and Kat.

Kayla: A beloved K name across cultures, it has mixed Hebrew and Arabic roots meaning “crown” or “laurel” and offers up cute nicknames Kay and Lala. 

Kenna: Definitely a trend-driven pick, it’s the feminine version of Kenneth meaning “knowing,” from the Scottish.

Keziah: The Hebrew name starting with K meaning “cassia tree” packs a major punch, not only for its central “Z” but also the three-syllable construction. Kizzy is a super-cute nickname. 

Kiki: Long used as a nickname, this cheeky pick has staying power on its own as well. It has mixed Japanese and French roots meaning “double happiness.” 

Kimi: Another beautiful Japanese baby name, this one meaning “righteous,” it’s a popular pick in its country of origin even if rarely heard Stateside.  

Kinsley: The English baby girl name meaning “the king’s meadow” is another one of royal proportions to bring something special to our K list.  

Kira: The Russian name Cyrus is the root of this feminized name meaning “throne.” Your little princess will adore it! 

Kora: The old-fashioned name gets a gen-Z twist when you replace C with a K. This Greek girl’s name means “maiden” and refers to the tale of Persephone (who also goes by Kore).

Kylie: Minogue and Kardashian put this one on the map, but it’s pretty cool in its own right; the Aboriginal name translates to “boomerang.”

Gender Neutral Names That Start With K

Kade: There’s just something about one-syllable names that command attention! This strong baby name starting with K has Scottish roots and means “from the wetlands.”

Kai: This gender-neutral Hawaiian name meaning “sea” is a crowd-pleaser; in 1979 it was barely in the top 1,000 names and this past year earned #93 for boys. For girls, it’s still more rare. 

Kairo: A twist on a place name (Cairo), this gender-neutral baby name with Arabic roots means “victorious one.” 

Kalani / Kelani: This beautiful Hawaiian name means “the heavens”—a perfect moniker for your little angel.

Kallen: A Scandinavian nature name meaning “river, stream,” it is equally adorable for a baby boy or girl.  

Karma: With word names remaining popular, the Hindi concept of destiny and spiritual force that was traditionally given as a name only to girls is now considered a relevant gender-neutral choice.  

Karter: The “K” spelling makes a classic (whose meaning, “cart-pusher,” is admittedly someone underwhelming) feel new and attractive.

Kassidy: A version of Cassidy meaning “curly-haired,” it’s just as cute as the original for a more unique spelling to give your baby boy or girl.  

Keaton: It has a trendy modern sound but is a long-standing English baby name meaning “shed town,” which works as a nod to the actress Diane if you’re a fan. 

Keegan: This strong Irish name is more commonly used for boys, but would feel just as apt for a little lady (kind of in the same way that the name Reagan has grown in popularity for girls).

Keelan: We love this rarely heard yet cool-sounding gender-neutral Irish baby name meaning “slender and fair.”

Kendall: An adorable English baby name that works for a girl or boy, Kendall means “valley of the river Kent” and is familiar in feeling but not overused. 

Kennedy: The solid Presidential name is an ever-popular pick for both boys and girls, rising steadily for the latter in recent years. It’s not as heard as it was back in the 1960s, but remains relevant to this day. 

Kenya: We love this stunning African place name that parents of children of either gender may consider. As a nod to your cultural roots or simply because it’s a beautiful place, Kenya is a contender. Coolly, this one has a double meaning; the Russian translation is “harmless, innocent.”  

Kieran: Expecting a baby with a head full of raven-black hair? Then this name feels just right. Kieran is an Irish baby name meaning “little dark one” or “black haired.” It’s typically a boy’s name, but with the popularity of similar names (like Kiera) for girls, there’s no reason it couldn’t be adopted for your baby girl.

Kiernan: A twist on Kieran, Kiernan means “son of a lord.” However, actress Kiernan Shipka has proved that it’s totally fitting for a daughter, too!

Killian: There’s something about this Celtic name that just rolls off the tongue! And its meaning is full of spunk: “bright headed” and “little warrior.”

Kyle: What once was a classic boy’s name is now picking up steam as a cute, off-the-beaten path name for both genders! It’s got Scottish and Irish origins and comes from the Gaelic word “caol” which refers to a narrow body of water.  

Once you pick the perfect baby name, it’s time to pick your baby bed! Consider SNOO—the only baby bed proven to add 1-2+ hours to a baby’s sleep. Learn more about SNOO.

Beyond K Baby Names:

About Jenny Studenroth Gerson

Jenny Studenroth Gerson is an Atlanta-based lifestyle journalist and novelist (Let Me Let You Go, 2020). Her work can be seen in publications including HuffPost, Cosmo, and WSJ, among many others. Jenny has researched thousands of baby names, combed through hundreds of nursery designs, and curated dozens of baby shower guides, making her absolutely the mom—and writer—you want to talk to when planning for Baby. When not meeting deadlines, she is chasing toddlers or chugging coffee—or both! Find her on Instagram @ourlifeinrosegold for mom hacks and more.

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