How to say it
KING
kɪŋ
Masculine
King
King, ruler
What it means
An English word name from king, the male sovereign, from Old English cyning.
King is a word name lifted straight from the title of a male sovereign, from Old English cyning. It belongs to the bold, aspirational word-name set with Saint, Legend, and Messiah, declaring its meaning outright. It has climbed sharply since the 2010s, strong in Black families, and also exists as a surname (B.B. King, Martin Luther King). Regal and unmistakable.
How to spell King
The standard spelling is King. Common variants include Kyng, Kingston, but King is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #147 in 2017, currently #405 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
A bold aspirational word name alongside Legend, Saint, and Messiah; also a surname (B.B. King, MLK).
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- King the regal word the name is taken from
Spelling variants
- Kyng
- Kingston
Names with the same feeling
See King from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name King mean?
- An English word name from king, the male sovereign, from Old English cyning.
- What does King mean in English?
- In English, King means "King, ruler." King is a word name lifted straight from the title of a male sovereign, from Old English cyning. It belongs to the bold, aspirational word-name set with Saint, Legend, and Messiah, declaring its meaning outright. It has climbed sharply since the 2010s, strong in Black families, and also exists as a surname (B.B. King, Martin Luther King). Regal and unmistakable.
- How do you pronounce King?
- King is pronounced kɪŋ. Say it as KING, with the stress on the "king" syllable.
- How do you spell King?
- The standard spelling is King. Common spelling variants include Kyng, Kingston.
- Is King a boy or girl name?
- King is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name King?
- King ranked #405 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.