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Names that mean 'King'

Nameberry
By Nameberry
Updated Thu Feb 06 2025
Baby names that mean king may appeal to parents who want a name that hints at royalty. Name meanings related to royalty of any kind are fashionable today. These names that mean king may inspire your son to live up to his high-minded moniker.

Here are all of Nameberry's names that mean king. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.

For more names with meanings related to royalty, browse our list of Names That Mean Ruler or Royal.
  1. Rory

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "red king"

    • Description:

      This spirited Gaelic classic, which became popular in Ireland via the illustrious twelfth century king Rory O'Connor, makes a highly energetic choice, now used for either sex. Rory's gender split is still trending boyward; it's one of the coolest boys' names starting with R.
  2. Ryan

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "little king"

    • Description:

      Ryan’s use as a given name was inspired by the surname Ryan, a variation of the Irish O’Riain meaning "son of Rían." Rían is composed of the Irish-Gaelic elements rí, meaning "king" and an, a diminutive suffix. Ryan is considered a unisex name in the US, where variant spellings Ryann and Ryanne are also valid for girls.
  3. Rory

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "red king"

    • Description:

      Rory is a buoyant, spirited name for a redhead with Celtic roots. The name Rory is getting more popular overall, but for the past few years has been trending decidedly toward the boys' side -- however, it's been rising to new heights for girls in recent years.
  4. Balthazar

    • Origin:

      Phoenician

    • Meaning:

      "Baal protects the King"

    • Description:

      This evocative name of one of the Three Wise Men of the Orient, also spelled Balthasar, may finally be ready for prime time. Balthazar, Melchior and Caspar were the Magi who brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus, though their names were not mentioned in the Bible.
  5. Rex

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "king"

    • Description:

      Now that many dogs are named Max, it's safe to use this sleek, solid, regal name again for your child. And with the charm of its final x, its regal meaning, and its offbeat simplicity, Rex is definitely one to consider.
  6. Roy

    • Origin:

      French or Celtic

    • Meaning:

      "king or red-haired"

    • Description:

      We've seen Ray regain his cool, but could this country/cowboy name epitomized by Roy Rogers (born Leonard Slye), Acuff, and Clark, do the same?
  7. Malik

    • Origin:

      Arabic; Greenlandic

    • Meaning:

      "king; owner; wave"

    • Description:

      A name with many spelling variations, including Malek, Melik, and Maliq, Malik is a popular name of Arabic and Semetic origin that is used internationally as both a given name and a surname. In terms of meaning, it can be considered a royal name meaning "king", though other sources suggest it is an alternative transcription of Maalik, making "owner, possessor" a more accurate meaning.
  8. Amir

    • Origin:

      Arabic or Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "prince, ruler; treetop"

    • Description:

      Concise, familiar and multicultural, Amir enjoys widespread popularity around the world. A common name in the Middle East and across Africa, it has been on the rise in the US since the late 70s, and entered the Top 100 for the first time in 2023.
  9. Reagan

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "little king"

    • Description:

      A strong, straightforward Irish unisex surname, with a merry glint in its eye, Reagan has been leaping up the popularity lists, to become one of the top girl names starting with R. Some will inevitably link it to President Ronald, but spell it Regan and it's a Shakespearean name: a daughter of King Lear.
  10. Royce

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "son of the king"

    • Description:

      It may seem like an indecisive cross between Roy and Reece, but Royce was fairly popular in the 1930s and '40s. It has seen a resurgence in recent years, helped by some well-known athlete bearers. The Latin pop singer Prince Royce also has brought renown to the name. And some aspirational parents may see the name as a way to associate with the Rolls-Royce brand.
  11. Ara

    • Origin:

      Armenian

    • Meaning:

      "king"

    • Description:

      Simple and yet distinctive, Ara is a mythological name of a famously handsome king. Although it originated as a boys' name, in the contemporary US, it's now much more commonly used for girls.
  12. Ryan

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "little king"

    • Description:

      This ultrapopular boys' name is rapidly becoming a hot name for girls; admired for its buoyant Irish spirit.
  13. Reagan

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "little king"

    • Description:

      Inextricably tied to the former president, Reagan is a handsome surname name with a cool, current sound. Gender-neutral nickname Ray/Rae is also very on-trend right now.
  14. Bodi

    • Origin:

      Hungarian, Slavic diminutive; variant of Bodhi "God protect the king; divine gift; enlightenment"

    • Meaning:

      "God protect the king; divine gift; enlightenment"

    • Description:

      Bodi is a succinct and friendly looking name, with a number of possible origins. One one hand, it could be a diminutive of the Hungarian Boldizsár, which ultimately derives from the Babylonian Belshazzar or Balthazar, in turn lending it a regal quality.
  15. Leroy

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "the king"

    • Description:

      Leroy's heyday was in the early twentieth century, when it was in the US Top 100 until 1949. As a result, it's now more frequently seen as a father or grandfather name. Nevertheless, it remains in the latter end of the US Top 1000, perhaps passed down from father to son, or similar enough to popular Levi that it still appeals.
  16. Rian

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "little king"

    • Description:

      More authentic and original form of Ryan, but far less common of the two spellings in the US. There were about 170 baby boys named Rian in the US last year, versus over 4000 named Ryan.
  17. Ara

    • Origin:

      Armenian

    • Meaning:

      "king"

    • Description:

      Ara is a unique boys' name that one of the most melodious in the Armenian name pool, familiarized by Notre Dame football coach Ara Parseghian. In Armenian mythology, Ara was a king so handsome that a rival queen went to war in order to make him her own. The name Ara is also known in the Arabic and Hebrew cultures.
  18. Melchior

    • Origin:

      Dutch from Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "city of the king; king of light"

    • Description:

      The least used of the Three Wise Men's names, but a strong option for bold namers to consider.
  19. Balthasar

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "God protects the king"

    • Description:

      Balthasar was one of the biblical Three Kings who visited the infant Jesus, also used by Shakespeare and in the oil-rich Getty family; offbeat and intriguing. Balthazar is another, equally appropriate spelling.
  20. Mufasa

    • Origin:

      African

    • Meaning:

      "king"

    • Description:

      Known for being the name of Simba's father in the Lion King.