This list includes 81 American boy names that start with K, from “Kace” to “Kyson”. They include traditional names like “Kevin” and newer spellings such as “Kaden”. Use this list for baby naming, family discussions, or basic name research.
American boy names that start with K are a diverse set drawing from Gaelic, Hebrew, Germanic, and recent American coinages. Notably, several K names rose in popularity in the late 20th century thanks to media and sports figures.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Pronunciation, Origin/Meaning, and Source.
Name: The actual given name as used in the United States, helping you scan options and compare spellings quickly.
Pronunciation: A concise phonetic guide that helps you say each name correctly and judge sound and rhythm.
Origin/Meaning: A one-line origin and meaning that gives cultural context and basic etymology for informed name choices.
Source: Shows where the pronunciation or meaning is documented, letting you trace usage and cultural background of each name.
American boy names that start with K
| Name | Pronunciation | Origin / Language | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin | KEV-in | Irish | handsome, gentle |
| Kenneth | KEN-eth | Gaelic | handsome, born of fire |
| Kyle | KYLE | Scottish | narrows, channel |
| Keith | KEETH | Scottish | wood, forest |
| Kurt | KURT | Germanic | strong, bold |
| Kurtis | KUR-tis | English/variant of Curtis | courteous, polite |
| Kade | KAYD | English/variant | round, barrel or variant of Cade |
| Kaden | KAY-den | Gaelic/variant | son of Cadhan (fighter) or “little battle” |
| Kaiden | KAY-den | Modern/American variant | variant of Caden; “battle” roots |
| Kayden | KAY-den | Modern/American variant | variant of Caden; “little battle” |
| Kameron | KAM-er-on | Scottish/variant | crooked nose / alternative of Cameron |
| Kane | KAYN | Irish/Scottish | little battler; warrior |
| Kasey | KAY-see | English/variant | brave in battle or variant of Casey |
| Kason | KAY-sun | English/modern | son of Cason/Cade variant |
| Kasen | KAY-sen | Modern/American variant | variant of Kason/Kayson |
| Karter | KAR-ter | English/variant of Carter | cart driver; occupational name |
| Karson | KAR-sun | English/variant of Carson | son of Carr/rock-dweller |
| Keegan | KEE-gan | Irish | descendant of Aodhagán (fire) |
| Keaton | KEE-ton | English | place name; hawk town |
| Kellan | KEL-an | Irish/Gaelic | powerful, bright-headed |
| Kellen | KEL-en | Irish/Gaelic | slender, powerful |
| Keanu | kee-AH-noo | Hawaiian | cool breeze |
| Kian | KEE-an | Irish/Persian | ancient or kingly; “grace of God” |
| Khalil | ka-LEEL | Arabic | friend, companion |
| Kobe | KOH-bee | Japanese/Dutch | tortoise (Japanese) or diminutive of Jacob |
| Knox | NOKS | Scottish | round hill, small hill |
| Kolton | KOL-ton | English/variant of Colton | from the coal town |
| Kolten | KOL-ten | English/variant | variant spelling of Colton |
| Konner | KON-er | Irish/variant of Connor | lover of hounds or high desire |
| Kristian | KRIS-tee-an | Greek/Latin/variant | follower of Christ |
| Kristopher | KRIS-toh-fer | Greek/Latin/variant | bearing Christ |
| Kris | KRIS | Greek/short form | short for Christopher/Christian |
| Kody | KOH-dee | English/variant of Cody | helpful or pillow |
| Kory | KOR-ee | English/variant of Corey | from the hollow or maiden |
| Korey | KOR-ee | English/variant | alternate Corey spelling |
| Kyler | KY-ler | English/variant of Kyle | narrow channel |
| Kai | KYE or KAH-ee | Hawaiian/Japanese | sea; forgiveness; rejoices |
| Kaleb | KAY-leb | Hebrew/variant of Caleb | faithful, dog; brave |
| Kelvin | KEL-vin | Scottish/English | from the river Kelvin |
| Kendrick | KEN-drick | English/Welsh | royal ruler; bold power |
| Kent | KENT | English | edge, rim; coastal land |
| Kiefer | KEE-fer | Germanic | barrel maker or rower |
| King | KING | English | monarch |
| Kenton | KEN-ton | English | town of the king |
| Kyrie | KEER-ee | Greek | Lord, Kyrie (lordly) |
| Kyson | KY-sun | Modern/American | son of Kyle/Cason variant |
| Kylo | KY-loh | Modern/Pop-culture | likely invented; modern coinage |
| Kareem | ka-REEM | Arabic | generous, noble |
| Khalid | ka-LEED | Arabic | eternal, everlasting |
| Kamal | ka-MAL | Arabic/Sanskrit | perfect, beauty; lotus |
| Konrad | KON-rad | Germanic | bold counselor |
| Kolby | KOL-bee | English/variant of Colby | dark town; from coal farm |
| Kylan | KY-lan | English/modern | variant of Kyle or Caelan |
| Koda | KOH-da | Native American/Japanese | friend; companion |
| Kody | KOH-dee | English/variant of Cody | helpful or pillow |
| Koby | KO-bee | Hebrew/Dutch variant | young dog or Jacob diminutive |
| Keelan | KEE-lan | Irish | slender; fighter |
| Keelan | KEE-lan | Irish | slender; fighter |
| Keifer | KYE-fer | Germanic/variant | variant of Kiefer; barrel maker |
| Keenan | KEE-nan | Irish | ancient, descendant of Cian |
| Kadeem | ka-DEEM | Arabic/African | servant; righteous |
| Kace | KAYS | English/modern | variant of Kase or Casey |
| Kasen | KAY-sen | Modern/variant | see Kason/Kason variant |
| Kash | KASH | English/modern | wealth; variant of Cash |
| Kaiser | KY-zer | German | emperor |
| Kameron | KAM-er-on | Scottish | crooked nose / variant of Cameron |
| Koa | KOH-ah | Hawaiian | warrior |
| Kipp | KIP | English | from Cyprian or playful nickname |
| Kirby | KUR-bee | English | church settlement by the sea |
| Kingsley | KINGS-lee | English | king’s meadow |
| Korben | KOR-ben | Modern/variant | possibly “man of the swamp” or modern coinage |
| Koa | KOH-ah | Hawaiian | warrior |
| Kyree | KY-ree | Modern/African-American | modern coinage inspired by Kyrie |
| Keen | KEEN | English | sharp, bold |
| Karter | KAR-ter | English/variant | see Karter above |
| Kellan | KEL-an | Irish | powerful, bright-headed |
| Kendall | KEN-dal | English | valley of the River Kent |
| Kamden | KAM-den | Modern/variant | K spelling of Camden/Camdyn |
| Kamron | KAM-ron | Persian/variant | success or variant of Cameron |
| Kamal | ka-MAL | Arabic/Sanskrit | see Kamal above |
| Khalil | ka-LEEL | Arabic | see Khalil above |
Descriptions
Kevin
A long-popular Irish name in the U.S.; peaked late 20th century. Common nicknames Kev or Kevvy. Widely attested in SSA lists (SSA).
Kenneth
Classic mid-20th-century staple in the U.S.; now less common but still familiar. Short form Ken. (SSA)
Kyle
Popular since the 1970s in the U.S.; crisp single-syllable name used widely for boys. (SSA)
Keith
Common in mid-to-late 20th century America; steady decline but still recognizable. (SSA)
Kurt
Short Germanic name used in the U.S.; saw steady use mid-20th century. (SSA)
Kurtis
Modernized spelling of Curtis; used as a masculine given name in U.S. records. (Nameberry)
Kade
Short, punchy name popular with American parents seeking a modern single-syllable K name. (SSA)
Kaden
American-favored spelling variant of Caden; rose sharply in early 2000s. (SSA)
Kaiden
Popular modern spelling variant of Kaden; common in 2000s–2010s. (SSA)
Kayden
Another popular spelling with K initial; widely used by U.S. parents. (SSA)
Kameron
K with a modern twist on Cameron; used for boys in the U.S. (Nameberry)
Kane
Short, strong name used in the U.S.; also familiar from pop culture and wrestling. (SSA)
Kasey
Originally unisex; used for boys in U.S. records, especially in past decades. (U.S. Census)
Kason
Modern invented-sounding name used by U.S. parents; rose in popularity recently. (SSA)
Kasen
Another K-initial modern variant parents choose for a fresh sound. (Nameberry)
Karter
K-spelled alternative to Carter; surged with -er trend in U.S. baby naming. (SSA)
Karson
K spelling of Carson; modern U.S. parents often choose this variant. (SSA)
Keegan
Irish surname-turned-first-name; rose in U.S. use for its energetic sound. (Nameberry)
Keaton
Used as a masculine given name in the U.S.; familiar from actors and surnames. (SSA)
Kellan
Modern Irish-derived choice in the U.S.; stylish two-syllable name. (Nameberry)
Kellen
Variant spelling of Kellan; used for boys and attested in U.S. records. (SSA)
Keanu
Made familiar in the U.S. by actor Keanu Reeves; Hawaiian origin and growing recognition. (Nameberry)
Kian
Short name with dual Irish and Persian roots; rising use among U.S. parents. (Nameberry)
Khalil
Common Arabic given name used by many U.S. families; noted in urban and multicultural communities. (U.S. Census)
Kobe
Became widely known in the U.S. through Kobe Bryant; used as a masculine given name. (SSA)
Knox
Short, punchy Scottish name that saw a strong rise in U.S. popularity recently. (SSA)
Kolton
K-spelled variant of Colton; popular modern choice for boys in the U.S. (SSA)
Kolten
Alternative spelling used by U.S. parents seeking a K initial. (Nameberry)
Konner
K-spelled variant of Connor/Conner; trendy modern variant in U.S. use. (SSA)
Kristian
K spelling of Christian; used by parents seeking a K initial or modern look. (SSA)
Kristopher
K-variant of Christopher; used in the U.S. as an alternative spelling. (Nameberry)
Kris
Often a nickname for Kristian/Kristopher but also used standalone for boys in U.S. records. (U.S. Census)
Kody
K variant of Cody; masculine given name attested in the U.S. (SSA)
Kory
K variant of Corey; used as a masculine given name in U.S. sources. (U.S. Census)
Korey
Another K-initial Corey variant found among American male names. (Nameberry)
Kyler
Modern -er variant of Kyle; popular with U.S. parents in recent decades. (SSA)
Kai
Short international name with multiple origins; widely used by American parents. (SSA)
Kaleb
K spelling of Caleb; very common in U.S. birth records in 2000s–2010s. (SSA)
Kelvin
Used as a masculine name in the U.S.; familiar but less common than Kelvin’s heyday. (Nameberry)
Kendrick
Surname-turned-first-name with steady U.S. use; familiar from music and sports. (SSA)
Kent
Traditional short English name used for American boys; mid-century popularity. (SSA)
Kiefer
Surname used as a given name in the U.S.; familiar because of public figures. (U.S. Census)
King
Surnames and royal-titled nouns used as given names; increasing use in the U.S. as a strong single-word name. (SSA)
Kenton
English place-name used as a masculine given name in U.S. records. (Nameberry)
Kyrie
Used as a male name in the U.S., popularized by athletes and musicians. (SSA)
Kyson
Modern invented-sounding name with K start; attested in U.S. baby lists. (SSA)
Kylo
Invented name popularized by film; adopted by some U.S. parents for boys. (Nameberry)
Kareem
Common Arabic masculine name used by Muslim and multicultural families in the U.S. (U.S. Census)
Khalid
Widely used Arabic masculine name attested in U.S. records and among immigrant communities. (U.S. Census)
Kamal
Used across cultures; attested among U.S. male births particularly in diverse communities. (Nameberry)
Konrad
Traditional Germanic name spelled with K; used in the U.S. as a masculine given name. (SSA)
Kolby
K-spelled Colby variant used by U.S. parents, especially in late 20th century. (SSA)
Kylan
Modern-sounding variant used for boys in U.S. naming trends. (Nameberry)
Koda
Short name used by U.S. parents, familiar from pop culture and as a friendly-sounding choice. (Nameberry)
Kody
Alternative spelling of Cody with K; attested across U.S. records. (SSA)
Koby
Variant of Kobe used by some U.S. families; influenced by celebrity use. (Nameberry)
Keelan
Irish-derived name used by U.S. parents as a stylish alternative to Kellan/Kellen. (Nameberry)
Keelan
Irish-derived name used by U.S. parents as a stylish alternative to Kellan/Kellen. (Nameberry)
Keifer
Alternative spelling sometimes seen in U.S. records; surname-to-first-name trend. (U.S. Census)
Keenan
Traditional Irish surname-turned-first-name found among American boys. (Nameberry)
Kadeem
Less common Arabic/African-origin masculine name attested in U.S. communities. (U.S. Census)
Kace
Short stylized K initial variant seen in U.S. baby-name sources. (Nameberry)
Kasen
Modern variant entry used by U.S. parents; multiple spellings exist. (Nameberry)
Kash
Modern one-syllable name with rock-star appeal; K spelling used by some U.S. parents. (Nameberry)
Kaiser
Surname meaning “emperor” used as a bold given name in the U.S.; growing in visibility. (Nameberry)
Kameron
Used earlier and repeated here as a common K spelling choice for boys in the U.S. (SSA)
Koa
Short Hawaiian name used by U.S. parents, especially in the U.S. Pacific and West Coast. (SSA)
Kipp
Used occasionally as a masculine given name in U.S. records. (U.S. Census)
Kirby
Surname used as a boys’ given name in the U.S.; familiar and vintage-feeling. (Nameberry)
Kingsley
Surname-turned-first-name increasingly used for boys in the U.S. (SSA)
Korben
Contemporary invented-sounding choice with K start; attested in U.S. baby lists. (Nameberry)
Koa
Repeated for emphasis — Hawaiian short name used in U.S. naming (SSA)
Kyree
Modern variant used in U.S. communities; stylistic K beginning. (Nameberry)
Keen
Rare but attested as a masculine given name in U.S. records; short, strong syllable. (U.S. Census)
Karter
Repeated as a common K variant of Carter; widely chosen in U.S. recent decades. (SSA)
Kellan
Repeated entry for this commonly chosen K name among U.S. parents. (Nameberry)
Kendall
Originally a surname; used for boys in the U.S., sometimes unisex. (SSA)
Kamden
Modern K spelling variant of Camden; used by American parents. (Nameberry)
Kamron
Alternate K spelling variant found in U.S. male name records. (U.S. Census)
Kamal
Repeated to reflect cross-cultural usage among U.S. parents. (Nameberry)
Khalil
Repeated due to prominence in U.S. communities and clear male usage. (U.S. Census)