AHEAD: The ultimate list of K names for girls… and which could go viral in 2025.
If you’re looking for beautiful girl names starting with K, you’re in the right place!
I’ve rounded up every K name that’s even the slightest bit modern and cool.
Below you’ll find over 65 names, their meanings, and current popularities.
You’ll also find a shortlist of K-initial names poised to go viral in 2025.
Related: Boy Names that Start with K
“K” names trending in 2025
These girls’ names starting with K are climbing the charts right now, each making notable gains since last year.
Kaeli
- Name meaning: Slender or pure.
- Popularity: #678 (↑1692)
Kaia 🔥
- Name meaning: The sea. Eldest sister. Wealthy.
- Popularity: Kaia ranks #186 (↑39), Kaiya ranks #797 (↑106), Kya ranks #820 (↑479), and Kaya isn’t ranking.
Kaliyah
- Name meaning: Beloved.
- Popularity: #507 (↑96)
Kamari
- Name meaning: Moon. Enemy of desire.
- Popularity: This space name ranks #810 (↑66) for girls and #367 for boys.
Kataleya
- Name meaning: Pure.
- Popularity: Kataleya ranks #672 (↑102) and Cataleya ranks #294 (↑47).
Katalina
- Name meaning: Pure.
- Popularity: Katalina ranks #451 (↑25) and Catalina ranks #147.
Kiana
- Name meaning: Divine or heavenly. Ancient. God is gracious. Elements of nature.
- Popularity: #726 (↑28)
Kiara
- Name meaning: Bright or clear.
- Popularity: #230 (↑22)
Popular girl names starting with K
These girl names that start with K are currently ranked in the top 1000.
Kamila
- Name meaning: Young religious servant.
- Popularity: #258
Katherine or Kathryn
- Name meaning: Pure.
- Popularity: Katherine ranks #169 and Kathryn ranks #681. (Catherine ranks #332).
Kayla or Keyla
- Name meaning: Slim and fair.
- Popularity: Kayla ranks #324 and Keyla ranks #907. (Cayla hasn’t ranked since 2009).
Kaylee or Kayleigh
- Name meaning: Slim and fair.
- Popularity: Kaylee ranks #180 and Kayleigh ranks #631.
Kehlani (or 6 variants!)
- Name meaning: Sea and sky.
- Popularity: Kehlani ranks #156, Kailani ranks #225, Kaylani ranks #246, Kalani ranks #378, Keilani ranks #636, Khalani ranks #867, and Kahlani ranks #975. Holy moly!
Kennedy or Kennedi
- Name meaning: Helmeted chief.
- Popularity: Kennedy ranks #72 and Kennedi ranks #630.
Kenzie
- Name meaning: Bright one.
- Popularity: #564
Khloe
- Name meaning: Sprout on a plant.
- Popularity: #216
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Kinsley or Kinslee
- Name meaning: King’s meadow.
- Popularity: Kinsley ranks #68 and Kinslee ranks #785.
Kylie or Kylee
- Name meaning: Boomerang or graceful.
- Popularity: Kylie ranks #207 and Kylee ranks #774.
Short girl names starting with K
Here are some short and adorable girl names that start with K.
Kali or Kallie
- Name meaning: Black one.
- Popularity: Kali ranks #290 and Kallie ranks #861 (↑48).
Kara
- Name meaning: Love.
- Popularity: #937
👉🏼 See more names that mean love
Kate or Katie
- Name meaning: Pure.
- Popularity: Kate ranks #478 and Katie ranks #529.
Keily
- Name meaning: Graceful. Slender.
- Popularity: #907 (↑65)
Kira or Kyra
- Name meaning: Throne.
- Popularity: Kira ranks #430 and Kyra ranks #698.
Kora
- Name meaning: Maiden.
- Popularity: Kora ranks #533 and Cora ranks #93.
Kyla
- Name meaning: Narrow land.
- Popularity: #565
If you like these cute K girl names you’ll like these one-syllable names.
Gender-neutral names starting with K
Here are some cool nonbinary names that start with the letter K.
Kai
- Name meaning: Hawaiian for “sea”.
- Popularity: This water name ranks #940 for girls and #61 for boys.
Kamden
- Name meaning: Winding valley.
- Popularity: This 6-letter name ranks #603 for boys and isn’t ranking for girls.
Kamryn
- Name meaning: Crooked nose.
- Popularity: Kamryn ranks #511 for girls. Cameron ranks #58 for boys.
Karsyn
- Name meaning: Child of marsh-dwellers.
- Popularity: Karsyn ranks #683 for girls. Carson ranks #111 for boys.
Karter
- Name meaning: Transporter of goods.
- Popularity: For girls, Karter isn’t ranking and Carter ranks #48. For boys, Karter ranks #225 and Carter ranks #48.
Kasey or Kacie
- Name meaning: Vigilant or watchful.
- Popularity: This Irish name isn’t ranking for either gender.
Kendall
- Name meaning: Valley of the river Kent.
- Popularity: This 2-syllable name ranks #316 for girls and isn’t ranking for boys.
Kensley
- Name meaning: King’s meadow.
- Popularity: This modern name ranks #755 for girls and isn’t ranking for boys.
Kingsley
- Name meaning: From the king’s meadow.
- Popularity: This royal name ranks #849 for boys and isn’t ranking for girls.
Kinley
- Name meaning: Warrior.
- Popularity: This great rainbow baby name ranks #597 for girls and isn’t ranking for boys.
Koa
- Name meaning: Hawaiian for “warrior”.
- Popularity: This 3-letter name ranks #298 for boys and isn’t ranking for girls.
Korbyn
- Name meaning: Raven or little crow.
- Popularity: This southern name isn’t ranking for boys or girls.
Kori
- Name meaning: From the hollow.
- Popularity: Kori ranks #808 for girls. Corey ranks #642 for boys.
Kyle
- Name meaning: Narrow.
- Popularity: This 4-letter name ranks #416 for boys and isn’t ranking for girls.
Unique girl names starting with K
These unique baby names starting with K are uncommon without being too out there.
Kadence or Kaydence
- Name meaning: Rhythm or flow.
- Popularity: Neither spelling is ranking. (Cadence ranks #951).
Kairi
- Name meaning: Sea village.
- Popularity: #984
Kaisley
- Name meaning: Enlightened.
- Popularity: This K name isn’t ranking.
Kamala
- Name meaning: Lotus flower.
- Popularity: This vice presidential K name isn’t ranking.
Kamiyah
- Name meaning: Invented name.
- Popularity: #917
Kaylin or Kalin
- Name meaning: Pure, slender, or fair.
- Popularity: Neither of these girl names starting with K is ranked.
Keiki
- Name meaning: Hawaiian for “child”.
- Popularity: This K name isn’t ranking.
Kenia or Kenya
- Name meaning: Country in Africa. Animal horn.
- Popularity: Kenia ranks #947 and Kenya isn’t ranking.
Kenna
- Name meaning: Attractive. Champion. Fire.
- Popularity: #751
Kensington
- Name meaning: Part of London, England.
- Popularity: This city name isn’t ranking.
Kerri
- Name meaning: Dark and mysterious.
- Popularity: This 5-letter name isn’t ranking.
Keziah or Kezia
- Name meaning: The Hebrew term for the spice tree, Cassia.
- Popularity: Neither spelling of this tree name is ranking.
Kimber
- Name meaning: Bold family.
- Popularity: #884
Kimora
- Name meaning: Pure.
- Popularity: #915
If you like unique girl names with K as the first letter you’ll like these edgy names.
Timeless girl names starting with K
These girl names starting with K don’t tend to evoke any particular decade.
Kaitlyn or Katelyn
- Name meaning: Pure.
- Popularity: Kaitlyn ranks #621 and Katelyn ranks #852.
Karina
- Name meaning: Pure.
- Popularity: #768
Kassidy
- Name meaning: Curly-haired.
- Popularity: #962
Keira
- Name meaning: Little dark one.
- Popularity: #571
Kelsey
- Name meaning: Ship’s victory or Cenel’s Island.
- Popularity: #662
Kendra
- Name meaning: Knowledge.
- Popularity: #741
Kiera
- Name meaning: Little dark one.
- Popularity: This “K” name isn’t ranking.
Kimberly
- Name meaning: From the royal meadow.
- Popularity: #222
Kristen
- Name meaning: Christian.
- Popularity: This “K” name isn’t ranking.
If you like these timeless K girl names you’ll like these Victorian girl names.
Girl names starting with K that are past their prime
Even though these K names are ranked in the top 1000 I think they’ve seen better days.
👉🏼 Jump ahead to the next section to view 2025 predictions!
Karla
- Name meaning: Free person.
- Popularity: #712
Kelly
- Name meaning: Fair or bright-headed.
- Popularity: #773
Khaleesi
- Name meaning: An invented name by George R.R. Martin for Game of Thrones.
- Popularity: #709
(Of course, if you happen to love any of these “K” girl names, you should choose it for your daughter and forget what I think!)
Will any girl names starting with K go viral in 2025?
Yes, I believe so!
Among girl names that start with K, there is one stand-out name poised for dramatic growth — and there is one honorable mention!
Kaia
Kaia shows all the statistical and cultural markers of a name poised for viral growth.
Since entering the U.S. rankings in 2000 at #905, it has climbed 719 spots to reach #186 in 2023 – a remarkable 79.4% increase in ranking position.
The name’s momentum is accelerating, with a 17.3% improvement from 2022 (#225) to 2023 (#186), its best single-year gain yet.
This growth pattern extends internationally. In England & Wales, Kaia has made an even more dramatic climb, rising from #2350 in 1996 to #288 in 2023 – a staggering 87.7% improvement.
This K-initial name reached its highest-ever U.S. birth count in 2023 with 1,608 babies, representing 0.092% of total female births.
The name’s rising profile is bolstered by Kaia Gerber, who has transitioned from “Cindy Crawford’s daughter” to an internationally recognized supermodel in her own right. This celebrity connection provides continuous visibility without oversaturation, similar to the pattern seen with names like Nova (which climbed from #886 in 2011 to #35 today).
What’s particularly compelling is Kaia’s simultaneous rise in multiple English-speaking countries – a pattern often seen before names explode in popularity.
Combined with its strongest-ever ranking positions in both the U.S. (#186) and U.K. (#288) in 2023, plus its accelerating year-over-year gains, this girl name that starts with K shows strong potential for viral growth by 2025.
Kaeli (Honorable Mention)
In 2023, Kaeli achieved the most dramatic single-year improvement of any girl’s name in the U.S. rankings, soaring from #2,370 to #678 – a stunning jump of 1,692 positions and a 71.39% improvement in ranking.
This spectacular debut into the top 1000 initially suggests viral potential.
However, a deeper analysis reveals important context…
Kaeli is a variant spelling of Kaylee, which shows a clear pattern of decline.
After peaking in 2009 at #26 (with 7,218 births representing 0.356% of all female births), Kaylee has fallen steadily, dropping to #180 in 2023 (with just 1,641 births or 0.094% of female births). This represents a 73.6% decrease in usage over 14 years.
This decline is particularly significant because historically when a name style begins falling from popularity, variant spellings that emerge later rarely achieve the same success as the original. The pattern has been demonstrated repeatedly with names like Kaitlyn/Caitlin and their later variants.
While Kaeli’s dramatic 2023 debut cannot be ignored (430 births, representing 0.025% of female births), the broader “Kay/lee” sound pattern shows signs of market saturation when accounting for all variants (Kaylee, Kayleigh, Kailey, etc.).
Additionally, today’s new parents came of age during Kaylee’s peak popularity in the 2000s, potentially viewing this name style as feeling dated rather than fresh. This generational factor often influences naming patterns.
Given these data points, Kaeli’s remarkable 2023 jump likely represents a short-term spike rather than the beginning of a sustained viral trend.
While this girl name starting with K may continue to see some growth, the declining trajectory of its parent name Kaylee suggests moderated expectations for 2025.
Nicknames starting with “K”
These are great if you love long names but want a shorter K-starting nickname.
Kady or Kadie
Short for: Kadence, Katherine
Kallie
Short for: Kalliope, Kaelyn, Kalinda
Kam
Short for: Kamila, Kamryn, Kamaria
Kass
Short for: Kassandra, Kassidy, Kassia
Kat
Short for: Katarina, Katalina, Katrina, Kathleen, Katerina
Kate
Short for: Katherine, Katelyn, Kaitlyn, Katalin
Katie or Katy
Short for: Katherine, Katelyn, Katharina
Kay
Short for: Katherine, Kaylynn, Kaylee
Keeks
Short for: Kiara, Keeley
Kel
Short for: Kelly, Kelsey
Kenna
Short for: Mackenna, Kennedy, McKenna, Makenna
Kiki
Short for: Katherine, Keira, Kirsten, Kiara, Kiersten, Kimiko
Kim or Kimmie
Short for: Kimberly, Kimberley
Kit
Short for: Katherine, Kathleen
Kizzy
Short for: Keziah
Kory
Short for: Koriander, Korrine
Kris
Short for: Kristina, Kristin, Kristen
Ky
Short for: Kylie, Kyleigh, Kylene, Kyra
Kyla
Short for: Kylie, Kylena, Kylara
Kenzie
Short for: Mackenzie
Middle name ideas for “K” girl names
Here are some beautiful first + middle name combinations for a girl’s name with K as the first letter.
- Kadence Rylan
- Kai Lennox
- Kaia Brooke
- Kairi Phoenix
- Kaisley Parker
- Kaitlyn Avery
- Kali Olivia
- Kaliya Sloane
- Kamala Blair
- Kamden Aubrey
- Kamila Blair
- Kamiyah Ruby
- Kamryn Mia
- Kara Hadley
- Karina Blakely
- Karsyn Jade
- Kasey Mackenzie
- Kassidy Faye
- Kataleya Blake
- Katalina Grace
- Kate Reagan
- Katherine Abigail
- Kaya Marie
- Kayla Jade
- Kaylee Juliette
- Kaylin Rose
- Kaylin Sophie
- Kehlani Violet
- Keiki Scarlett
- Keily Sage
- Keira Hailey
- Kelsey Layne
- Kendall Phoenix
- Kendra Harlow
- Kenna Madison
- Kennedy Sloan
- Kensington Ella
- Kensley Magnolia
Girl Names That Start With K: Trend Analysis
A remarkable 65 K-names for girls currently rank in the top 1000, showing the enduring appeal of this powerful consonant.
Kinsley leads the pack at #68, followed by Kennedy at #72 – both embodying the modern trend toward surname-style choices for girls.
The Hawaiian influence is unmistakable, with names like Kailani, Kalani, and Kehlani gaining momentum. This reflects a broader appreciation for multicultural names with exotic sounds.
Traditional K-names show varying trajectories. Katherine (#169) maintains its classic status, while Kimberly (#222) seems to be holding steady – a surprise given its peak popularity in the 1970s.
Mythology and pop culture have influenced choices like Khaleesi (#709), though its Game of Thrones association may be fading.
Short, spunky names like Kate (#478) and Kora (#533) appeal to parents seeking simplicity.
The -lee/-ly ending trend remains strong with names like Kaylee (#180) and Kinley (#597).
The dramatic drop of Kaeli from #678 to #2370 suggests parents are moving away from creative spellings of established names.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2025:
Kaia‘s predicted viral status makes sense given its perfect blend of simplicity and exoticism.
The steady growth predictions for names like Katalina and Kiara align with the rising preference for melodic, multicultural choices.
Kataleya in particular bears watching, as nature-inspired names continue to resonate with modern parents.
If you’re considering a K name for your baby girl, there’s never been a more diverse and stylish selection to choose from.
The source for popularity data is SSN.
This article was originally published on Nov 9, 2021 and was updated on Feb 4, 2025.
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