How to say it
KNOX
nɒks
Masculine
Knox
Round hill
What it means
Old English place name and surname from cnocc ('a round hill'). John Knox (the 16th-century Scottish Reformer) is the historical anchor; Fort Knox is the cultural one.
Knox is an English and Scottish place name and surname, from the Old English cnocc ('a small rounded hill'), the K is silent in modern English. John Knox (1514-1572) was the leader of the Scottish Reformation, founder of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Fort Knox in Kentucky (the US Bullion Depository) gave the surname a 20th-century American resonance, by extension the phrase 'safe as Fort Knox.' Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie naming their son Knox Léon (2008) sparked the modern first-name surge. It's been in the US top 100 since 2020. Single syllable; no common short.
How to spell Knox
Spelled Knox. K · n · o · x — 4 letters total.
Popularity over time
peaked at #196 in 2025, currently #196 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
- Pronunciation
NOKS, single syllable. The K is silent (like knee or knight).
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.
- John Knox Scottish Reformer, founder of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland
- Fort Knox US Army post in Kentucky housing the Bullion Depository
Names with the same feeling
See Knox from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Knox mean?
- Old English place name and surname from cnocc ('a round hill'). John Knox (the 16th-century Scottish Reformer) is the historical anchor; Fort Knox is the cultural one.
- What does Knox mean in Old English?
- In Old English, Knox means "Round hill." Knox is an English and Scottish place name and surname, from the Old English cnocc ('a small rounded hill'), the K is silent in modern English. John Knox (1514-1572) was the leader of the Scottish Reformation, founder of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Fort Knox in Kentucky (the US Bullion Depository) gave the surname a 20th-century American resonance, by extension the phrase 'safe as Fort Knox.' Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie naming their son Knox Léon (2008) sparked the modern first-name surge. It's been in the US top 100 since 2020. Single syllable; no common short.
- How do you pronounce Knox?
- Knox is pronounced nɒks. Say it as KNOX, with the stress on the "knox" syllable.
- How do you spell Knox?
- The name is spelled K-n-o-x.
- Is Knox a boy or girl name?
- Knox is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Knox?
- Knox ranked #196 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.