Dog Names That Start With K

  1. Khione
    • Origin:

      Greek mythology
    • Meaning:

      "Snow"
    • Description:

      Khione was the name of several minor figures in Greek mythology, of which the most notable is the nymph who Hermes turned into a snow cloud. Khione works as both a high-brow mythological name and a Kardashian-trendy K name.
  2. Kinley
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "fair hero"
    • Description:

      A Scottish surname name, more popular as the Presidential McKinley, meaning "son of the fair hero".
  3. Kanye
    • Origin:

      African place-name, Nigeria
    • Meaning:

      "honor, tribute"
    • Description:

      Kanye West propelled his name into the Top 900 in the early 2000s, at the height of his popularity, though now it has dropped off the baby-naming map. In addition to its African derivation, it is a Hawaiian name meaning 'free'.
  4. Kiwa
    • Origin:

      Maori
    • Meaning:

      "Pacific ocean"
    • Description:

      Kiwa, one of the most popular Maori names for boys in New Zealand, is the name of several ocean guardians in Maori mythology. It's part of a poetic name for the Pacific ocean.
  5. Kano
    • Origin:

      African place-name or Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "the god of the waters"
    • Description:

      Pleasing crossover possibility.
  6. Kiyomi
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "sacred and beautiful; clean and beautiful"
    • Description:

      The name of a Japanese citrus fruit that is rising among baby girls in the US. The name Kiyomi was given to just under 200 baby girls in 2022.
  7. Kiefer
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "barrel maker; pine"
    • Description:

      Kiefer is a strong occupational surname associated with "24" star Kiefer Sutherland, but one that could well join the other 'er' surnames currently in favor. Keifer is a German surname transferred to first name use, derived from two old Germanic words, kien and forhe, both of which mean "pine tree."
  8. Kuro
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "ninth son; black"
    • Description:

      Traditionally given to the ninth-born son, which is a rarity nowadays.
  9. Kelso
    • Origin:

      Scottish place and surname
    • Meaning:

      "chalk ridge"
    • Description:

      This name of a town in Scotland, one of the earliest recorded surnames in the whole British Isles, has more vitality than Kelsey.
  10. Kirin
    • Origin:

      Chinese mythological name
    • Description:

      Kirin is a mythical Chinese figure that is a flying horse with elements of a dragon. The creature combines elements of the male -- Ki -- and the female -- Rin -- to make a gender neutral name that would work well in the Western World.
  11. Kiernan
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "little dark one"
    • Description:

      Although this surname name is closely related to the more common Irish name Kieran, Kiernan is also a well used family name, tied to thirty-three ancient chieftains. It has on a few occasions been used for girls.
  12. Kiva
    • Origin:

      Hebrew, variant of Akiva
    • Meaning:

      "protect"
    • Description:

      The spiritual sounding Kiva has a number of other-worldly associations. Kiva is a "Stargate" character who becomes a commander in the Lucian Alliance, as well as a planet in "Star Wars." Kiva is also the name of a room used by the Hopi for spiritual ceremonies.
  13. Kalani
    • Origin:

      Hawaiian
    • Meaning:

      "the heavens"
    • Description:

      Kalani is a rhythmic name that can be used for either gender though feels more feminine in the contemporary culture. It only just entered the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2015.
  14. Kir
    • Origin:

      Russian variation of Cyrus, Persian
    • Meaning:

      "sun"
    • Description:

      As attractive and straightforward as Kir may be, you may wish to go with the Irish spelling Keir (of different origins), due to Kir's association with the French cocktail.
  15. Kora
    • Origin:

      Maori, English, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "maiden"
    • Description:

      As the softer-looking Cora of Downton Abbey fame charted highly in the US and the UK, some parents were looking for a way to make this name a little less common, a bit more trendy or far more Germanic by using a "K". We prefer the C version, but Kora is still an elegant name.
  16. Kieran
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "little dark one"
    • Description:

      Kieran is a boys' name that could cross over, as an update of outmoded Karen or a variation on trendy Kiera (or Keira or Kyra). Keren Ann is an Israeli-born singer. The proportion of babies named Kieran who are girls is less than ten percent, but is slowly growing. Kieran had an increase in use for girls in 2022.
  17. Katana
    • Origin:

      Persian or Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "honorable or sword"
    • Description:

      Katana is a male name in Old Persian and a well-used word in Japanese, but as a girls' name is these days found more often as Kitana, the name of a princess in the video game Mortal Kombat II.
  18. Kori
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Corey or African
    • Meaning:

      "lamb"
    • Description:

      This variation of Corey has a Kardashian-style spelling update -- which might be why it's experiencing a boost in popularity of late. Kori is also a Kikuyu name meaning lamb, one of the many names from that African culture with animal meanings.
  19. Keller
    • Origin:

      German occupational name
    • Meaning:

      "cellar master"
    • Description:

      Keller is a German surname that originated as an occupational name for a cellar or store master, which seems to be the background of several of the most stylish new German names for boys. One of the stylish new two-syllable -er ending names for boys, Keller is rising up the ranks heading for the Top 1000. It may be an honorific for Helen Keller.
  20. Kainalu
    • Origin:

      Hawaiian
    • Meaning:

      "ocean that billows"
    • Description:

      Many Hawaiian names reference nature, especially the ocean -- not surprising for a state that's made up of islands. Kainalu's meaning is one of the loveliest.