The first name King

In 2025, 786 boys born in the United States were named King, the 405th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2017, when 2,696 were.

US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

• King Vidor
  American film director, film producer, and screenwriter (1894-1982)
• King Camp Gillette
  American entrepreneur (1855–1932)
• King Baggot
  American actor, screenwriter and director (1879-1948)
• M. King Hubbert
  American geoscientist (1903–1989)
• John King Fairbank
  American sinologist (1907-1991)
• King Curtis
  American saxophonist (1934–1971)
• King Krule
  English singer-songwriter, born 1994
• King Donovan
  Actor and director (1918-1987)
• King Fleming
  American pianist (1922–2014)
• King Britt
  American DJ and record producer, born 1968
• Thomas King Carroll
  American politician, Maryland (1793-1873)
• King O'Malley
  Australian politician (1858-1953)

How popular is the name King?

In 2025, 35 boys born in England and Wales were named King, ranking 896th. Its peak was 2017, with 67 births.

Is King a boy's or a girl's name?

Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 37,890 US babies named King since 1880 were boys.

When was King most popular?

2017 in the United States, when 2,696 babies were named King, its highest rank at 147th.

Is King also a surname?

Yes. King is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.