King

Meaning of King

Means "ruler" or "chief". It signifies royalty and leadership.

King has English roots — browse every English baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of King

King has cooled off, slipping to #405 in 2025, down from a peak of #147 in 2017.

Notable people named King

• Martin Luther King Jr.
  Civil rights leader
• King Charles III
  King of the United Kingdom
• King Vidor
  Film director
• King Donovan
  Actor
• King Sunny Adé
  Nigerian musician

More English names

Questions about the name King

What does the name King mean?

King means means "ruler" or "chief". it signifies royalty and leadership, and it comes from English origins.

Is King a boy's or a girl's name?

King is most commonly used as a boy's name in the United States.

How popular is the name King?

In 2025, King ranked #405 for boys, down from #342 the year before.

When was King most popular?

King peaked at #147 in 2017.