Knightley Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

About Knightley

Keira Knightley made her first name famous, single-handedly changing the most popular spelling from Kiera to Keira. Now we're moving on to use her last name as baby name inspiration. Knightley is a last name used as a first that we predict will be used more for girls, with its trendy -ley ending, in the future.

Knightley for boys

A courtly surname and place name that feels like it could be a successor to Kingsley. It has a British feel thanks to its most famous wearers: actress Keira Knightley, and Mr (George) Knightley, the love interest of Jane Austen's novel Emma.

Pronounced NITE-lee.

As of October 2026, Knightley ranked #16195 for girls in US births in 2025 and #10421 for boys in US births in 2024 SSA, peaked at #8277 for girls in 2021.