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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. 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.
  5. 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?
  6. 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.
  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. 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.
  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. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. Regan

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "little king"

    • Description:

      Like somewhat more popular twin sister Reagan, this vibrant last-name-first Irish choice makes a strong, straightforward option.
  16. Rey

    • Origin:

      Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "king"

    • Description:

      Rey, a Ray-soundalike that has ranked on the boys' side for the past 15 years, is about to get more popular for girls too, now that it's the name of the new heroine of the latest Star Wars movie. While the sound of the name is nothing new, the royal connection is, joining names such as Reign (Kardashian) and Charlotte (the new Princess) in an expansive definition of royal baby names.
  17. Theoden

    • Origin:

      Literature

    • Meaning:

      "king"

    • Description:

      The name of the King of Rohan in J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, supposedly a translation of Rohirric Tûrac ("king"). Tolkien based the Rohirric language on Old English.
  18. Emyr

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "king"

    • Description:

      Emyr is a name that is well-known in Wales, but little heard outside of it. There are several well-known Emyrs, from the famed Welsh novelist and poet Emyr Humphries to footballer Emyr Huws.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.