Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
King
BoyEnglish· “king”
- Meaning
- king
- Origin
- English
- Pronunciation
- KING
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #405
- US babies 2025
- 786
- Best rank
- #147 (2017)
- Peak year
- 2017
Meaning and origin of King
King is an English name that means “king”.
King is an English word name from the Old English cyning, meaning ruler of a people. It was first used as a surname, sometimes for someone who played the king in a pageant or had a regal manner. As a first name, King has grown in the United States in recent years, part of a trend for bold word names like Legend and Messiah. It feels confident and striking, and it works as a middle name as well. The name also recalls Martin Luther King Jr., though here it is used as a given name.
Popularity over time
King has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 100 different years. Its best national rank was #147 in 2017, the same year it reached its highest count of 2,696 babies. In 2025, 786 babies were named King, and it ranked #405 nationally. That is 69% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #607 in 1920, #723 in 1950, #1,985 in 1980, #1,597 in 2000, #399 in 2010, and #405 in 2025. Of the 37,850 US boys named King since records began, 54% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 9,057 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Abraham, Xander, Finn, Maddox, and Ryker.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, King ranked highest in Georgia, South Carolina, and Maryland.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | #216 | 57 |
| South Carolina | #237 | 24 |
| Maryland | #261 | 21 |
| Florida | #299 | 65 |
| North Carolina | #322 | 37 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
King is usually pronounced KING, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with K and ends in “-ng”.
Middle names for King
A few middle names that flow with King: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for King
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Lists that include King
Frequently asked questions
What does the name King mean?
King is an English name that means “king”.
What is the origin of the name King?
King has English roots. King is an English word name from the Old English cyning, meaning ruler of a people.
Is King a popular name?
Yes. King ranked #405 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is King a boy or girl name?
King is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce King?
King is usually pronounced KING. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings