King Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name 'King' has its roots in Old English, meaning 'ruler' or 'monarch'. It evolved from the Old English 'cyning' and has seen various forms in different languages. The name has a strong association with leadership and authority, though it does not have biblical relevance. It gained popularity during the Middle Ages and continues to be perceived positively in modern times.
The name King is most popular in Nevada, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been consistently rising. From 2020-2022, King has been too falling for male in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, too rising for male in South, too falling for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been too falling for male in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, too falling for male in West. Across generations, 'King' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 580th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 690th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 900th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1507th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1887th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 679th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 177th out of 23106 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 9204th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 12526th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 18924th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'King' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "King"
Pronunciation
/kɪŋ/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name 'King' originated from the Old English term 'cyning', which meant 'king' or 'ruler'. It is derived from the Proto-Germanic '*kuningaz', which has similar meanings across various Germanic languages.
Meaning
Ruler, monarch, sovereign
Language Evolution
Old English: cyning, Proto-Germanic: *kuningaz, Old High German: kuning, Middle English: king
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the Middle Ages, particularly among the nobility and royalty. It became a common surname and was often used to denote lineage or descent from a royal family.
Variants & Derivatives
Kinga, Kingsley, Kingston, Kynan
Modern Popularity & Image
The name King is often associated with leadership and authority. It carries a strong and regal connotation and has been popularized in modern culture through various media.
Famous People
Martin Luther King Jr., B.B. King, Stephen King, King Charles III
Explore More King Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "King"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "King"
"King" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 580th of 7545 | 1,862 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 690th of 6773 | 1,474 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 900th of 7552 | 1,293 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1507th of 10718 | 532 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1887th of 16616 | 603 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 679th of 24088 | 4,963 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 177th of 23106 | 25,818 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 9204th of 9204 | 5 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 12526th of 12526 | 5 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 18924th of 30306 | 30 |
Regional Popularity of "King" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
66.45% 941st/1416 |
81.94% 1130th/1379 |
17.33% 410th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
67.27% 1040th/1546 |
69.54% 1082nd/1556 |
21.84% 514th/2353 |
62.51% 967th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
47.60% 1060th/2227 |
42.72% 1038th/2430 |
26.46% 755th/2853 |
40.76% 1131st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
49.30% 1448th/2937 |
46.83% 1631st/3483 |
41.79% 1470th/3518 |
45.15% 1826th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
64.56% 2379th/3685 |
47.22% 2113th/4475 |
41.30% 2145th/5194 |
28.11% 1776th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
15.28% 700th/4582 |
15.18% 784th/5164 |
8.11% 593rd/7313 |
10.13% 756th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
5.17% 206th/3984 |
4.23% 190th/4487 |
2.07% 141st/6822 |
4.21% 264th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "King" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "King"
This map shows the relative popularity of "King" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.