King
How to say it: KING · /ˈkɪŋ/
From Old English 'cyning' meaning 'king' or 'ruler'; used as a surname and increasingly as a given name conveying authority.
King was the 371st most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 786 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 2010s, its births are down about 67% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #668 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #371 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 786 |
| Share of births | 1 in 3,750 |
| Peak decade | 2010s |
| Change over 10 years | −67% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #668 |
| In France, 2025 | #1,664 among boys’ names, 10 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
A 2010s high marks King, which is still well used. It sits close to that high but is poised to recede somewhat.
What goes with it
One blunt syllable with a crisp attack makes King feel strong and royal. Kingston and Prince sit alongside it.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called King is about 1 in 157.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
In France: #1,664 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named King
- King Vidor (1894–1982)American film director, film producer, and screenwriter
- King Camp Gillette (1855–1932)American entrepreneur
- King Krule (born 1994)English singer-songwriter
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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