Knox
2025 SSA
About Knox
Knox is an old Scottish surname that Brad Pitt (whose great-great-grandfather was named Hal Knox Hillhouse) and Angelina Jolie took out of the back cupboard, dusted off, and elevated to coolness--to the point where it entered the popular baby names list in 2009. Knox now ranks among the most influential celebrity baby names.
With Knox, the Jolie-Pitts established their own tradition: instead of their sons bearing the same first inital, they share the final letter 'x'--Maddox, Pax and Knox-- as well as a final 'n' for their middle names. It's celebrity shine has made the formerly obscure Knox one of the most popular Scottish names for boys.
The surname Knox dates back at least to the thirteenth century, and John Knox was the priest who brought about the Reformation in Scotland.
Pronounced NAHKS.
As of October 2026, Knox ranked #196 in US births in 2025 SSA, Nameberry popularity #216.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #286 | 1,244 | 647.6 |
| 2015 | #258 | 1,403 | 732 |
| 2016 | #245 | 1,539 | 811 |
| 2017 | #233 | 1,640 | 886 |
| 2018 | #219 | 1,706 | 939.3 |
| 2019 | #241 | 1,562 | 870.6 |
| 2020 | #238 | 1,529 | 885.8 |
| 2021 | #220 | 1,737 | 992.9 |
| 2022 | #199 | 1,900 | 1,088.2 |
| 2023 | #208 | 1,781 | 1,041.2 |
| 2024 | #209 | 1,701 | 987.3 |
| 2025 | #196 | 1,836 | 1,074.9 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Knox.
- Bodhi
- Lennox
- Nash
- Grey
- Hendrix
- Lennon
- Maverick
- Maddox
- Rowen
- Quinn
- Jett
- Gray
- Oakley
- Wilder
- Remy
- Tate
- Beau
- Huxley
- Reed
- Remington
Knox on lists
Famous Knoxs
- James Knox Polk
11th President of the United States
- Knox Martin
American painter and sculptor
- Knox Leon Jolie
Pitt (2008), son of actors Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt
- Knox Oliver Weekes (b. 2010)
son of musician Dallon Weekes and Breezy Douglas
- Knox Cameron Patrick Followill (b. 2011)
son of musicians Johanna Bennet and Matthew Followill
- Knox Sterling Hager (b. 2011)
son of pro wrestler Jack Swagger
- Knox Bentley (2013)
son of singer Dierks Bentley & Cassidy Black
- Knox Addison Alan (b. 2013)
son of actress Amanda Righetti and Jordan Alan
- Knox Blue Howey (b. 2015)
son of Sarah Shahi and Steve Howey
- Knox Joseph Kelly (b. 2016)
son of baseball player Joe Kelly
- Ronald Knox
English theologian and novelist
- John Knox
Scottish religious reformer
Knox in pop culture
- Knox Overstreet
character in film "Dead Poet's Society"
- Knox
character on TV's "Angel"
- Knoxville
a city in Tennessee, USA, also named after Henry Knox
- Knox Gelatin
gelatin brand
- Knox Harrington
The video artist, character in The Big Lebowski
- Knox Callaghan
character in "All Chained Up" by Sophie Jordan
- Fort Knox
military post & reservation in KY, USA (site of the US Gold Depository since 1936; named in honor of Henry Knox)
- Knox
character in Brandon Mull's "Dragonwatch" series