Dog Names That Start With K

  1. Kinsey
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "king's victory"
    • Description:

      Kinsey enjoyed popularity blip thanks to similarity to Lindsay, and because of Sue Grafton's alphabet mysteries heroine, Kinsey Millhone. Now, Kinsley has become more popular than Kinsey.
  2. Karo
    • Origin:

      Finnish diminutive of Karl, Scandinavian
    • Meaning:

      "free man"
    • Description:

      A pet form of Karl, the form of Carl used throughout Scandinavia.
  3. Kalel
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Khalil
    • Description:

      Kalel first entered the US Top 1000 as a one-off appearance in 2009, then reentered in 2013. It's possible that some parents see it as a spelling variant of the classic Arabic name Khalil, meaning friend. Or maybe some—Nicolas Cage, we're looking at you—were inspired by the birth name of Clark Kent, AKA Superman, Kal-El. Cage was long associated with attempts to remake a big screen story about the Man of Steel. He and wife Alice Kim gave the name to their son in 2005.
  4. Kika
    • Origin:

      Variation of Francisca, Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "from France or free man"
    • Description:

      Cute diminutive of Francisca.
  5. Kallan
    • Origin:

      Scandinavian
    • Meaning:

      "stream, river"
    • Description:

      Name with genuine roots that nevertheless feels synthetic.
  6. Kyle
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "narrow spit of land"
    • Description:

      Not as popular for girls as Kylie or Kyla, but we prefer its simplicity.
  7. Kora
    • Origin:

      Maori, English, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "maiden"
    • Description:

      As the softer-looking Cora of Downton Abbey fame charted highly in the US and the UK, some parents were looking for a way to make this name a little less common, a bit more trendy or far more Germanic by using a "K". We prefer the C version, but Kora is still an elegant name.
  8. Karla
    • Origin:

      German variation of Carla
    • Description:

      Both Karla and Carla are sliding down the ranks, though Karla remains far more popular in the USA than Carla.
  9. Kyo
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "village; capital city; apricot; unite"
    • Description:

      Simple and sweet name for a son that feels on-trend in this era of Kai.
  10. Kaison
    • Origin:

      Modern invented name
    • Description:

      Is Kaison really a variation of Kason or Kayson or Kaysen, or are they all equal inventions? Think of it as Jason or Mason, Kardashianized. Cason is the more traditional spelling, one that has the better chance of standing the test of time.
  11. Kinvara
    • Origin:

      Irish, Gaelic
    • Meaning:

      "head of the sea"
    • Description:

      A rare and refined Irish place name (Cinn Mhara) turned baby name, belonging to a picturesque harbor town. As a given name, it has received occasional use especially amongst the upper classes in Britain. Lady Kinvara Balfour is an English playwright and novelist.
  12. Kyoto
    • Origin:

      Place-name
    • Description:

      Kyoto is a Japanese city name not yet on the map for babies, but why not?
  13. Kodi
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Cody, English
    • Meaning:

      "helpful, pillow"
    • Description:

      The Kodi respelling of early 90s favorite gender neutral name Cody might have gone unnoticed were it not for Australian actor Kodi Smit-McPhee, star of Jane Campion's Power of the Dog.
  14. Khalid
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "immortal, everlasting"
    • Description:

      Khalid has flirted with the Top 1000 for several decades now, climbing back on in 2015 after more than a decade's absence. Its return could be in part because of the popularity of snapchat personality and rap collaborator DJ Khaled. R&B singer Khalid may also be contributing to its newfound popularity. The name is important in Islamic history thanks to a 7th century military leader. Khalida is the feminine version.
  15. Kareem
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "noble, generous"
    • Description:

      A favorite Muslim name, Kareem first appeared on the US Top 1000 list in 1972 (jumping in at Number 405!), coinciding with the early career of basketball great turned writer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born Lewis Alcindor). It has continued to chart every year since.
  16. Kason
    • Origin:

      Modern invented name
    • Description:

      Jason with a K or Kase with an N or Karson without the R. Kason is one of many similar names that are extremely popular right now.
  17. Kenyon
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "white haired or blond"
    • Description:

      Kenyon is a very engaging British surname name, the middle y giving it a kind of southwestern canyonesque undertone.
  18. Kamiko
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "fragrant ocean child"
    • Description:

      Popular choice for female anime characters.
  19. Kathy
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Katherine and Kathleen
    • Meaning:

      "pure"
    • Description:

      There are lots of Kathy moms and grandmas but very few babies, most of whom are now called Kate or Katie.
  20. Kyoto
    • Origin:

      Place-name
    • Description:

      Japanese city name not yet on the map for babies, but why not?