Names That Start with Q

Q is one of the least used letters in English, so a Q name stands out on any class list. In English it nearly always comes with a u, giving names a distinctive kw sound at the start. Quinn, Quincy, Quentin and Quinlan all follow this pattern.

Quentin comes from a Latin name related to the word for fifth, and it has several spelling cousins: Quinton, Quintin and Quinten. If you like the sound, pick the spelling you find easiest to read and write. Quinn is an Irish surname that works for boys and girls alike, and Quin is a shorter spelling of it. Quinlan is another Irish surname. Quincy, with Quincey as a variant, began as a French place name and later became an English and American family name.

Not every Q name follows the qu rule. Qasim and Quadir come from Arabic, where the letter represents a deeper sound than the English k, and both are used in Muslim families. Queen and Quest are word names with bold meanings. Because Q names are uncommon, people may ask how to spell them, but most are short and easy to pronounce once heard. They also pair well with longer, more familiar middle names.