Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Knox
BoyScottish, Old English· “round hill”
- Meaning
- round hill
- Origin
- Scottish, Old English
- Pronunciation
- NAHKS
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #196
- US babies 2025
- 1,836
- Best rank
- #196 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2022
Meaning and origin of Knox
Knox is a Scottish and Old English name that means “round hill”.
Knox is a Scottish surname from the Old English cnocc, meaning a round hill or knoll, originally given to someone who lived by such a hill. Its most famous bearer is John Knox, the leader of the Protestant Reformation in Scotland. In the United States, Fort Knox, named for the Revolutionary War general Henry Knox, gives the name a sense of strength and security. As a first name Knox is bold and compact, with its silent k and final x making it visually distinctive. It sits well with other short, strong names such as Jett and Beck.
Popularity over time
Knox first appears in US Social Security records in 1881. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 19 different years, starting in 1881. Its best national rank was #196 in 2025, and the most babies received it in 2022, when 1,902 were named Knox. In 2025, 1,836 babies were named Knox, and it ranked #196 nationally. That is 31% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #2,096 in 1920, #2,507 in 1950, #3,712 in 2000, #459 in 2010, and #196 in 2025. Of the 24,142 US boys named Knox since records began, 50% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 10,494 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Griffin, Adonis, Judah, Nash, and Messiah.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Knox ranked highest in Nebraska, Iowa, and Idaho.
Gender, sound and spelling
About 99% of US babies named Knox over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Knox is usually pronounced NAHKS, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with K and ends in “-ox”.
Middle names for Knox
A few middle names that flow with Knox: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Knox
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Lists that include Knox
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Knox mean?
Knox is a Scottish and Old English name that means “round hill”.
What is the origin of the name Knox?
Knox has Scottish and Old English roots. Knox is a Scottish surname from the Old English cnocc, meaning a round hill or knoll, originally given to someone who lived by such a hill.
Is Knox a popular name?
Yes. Knox ranked #196 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Knox a boy or girl name?
Knox is mainly a boy's name. About 99% of US babies named Knox over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Knox?
Knox is usually pronounced NAHKS. 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