Rupaul's Drag Race Queens

  1. Jessica
    • Origin:

      English, meaning unknown
    • Description:

      When Jennifer was ready to give up her throne, her crown was passed to Jessica, who reigned for not one but two decades; Jessica was the top name of both the 1980's and 90's, never sounding quite as trendy as its predecessor, maybe because of its classic Shakespearean pedigree. Jessica has declined a bit in popularity but is still a popular choice.
  2. Jinx
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      Jinx, a James Bond heroine name has an ominous meaning but kinetic energy. In the film "Die Another Day," the actual first name of the character played by Halle Berry is Giacinta.
  3. Jojo
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Jo-beginning names
    • Description:

      Sprightly and engaging nickname for human, full name for pet. Author Jojo Moyes and dancer/singer Jojo Sliwa have propelled the name into the public eye.
  4. Joslyn
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Jocelyn
    • Description:

      Much less popular than the original spelling of Jocelyn. While it might be tempting to go with this more phonetic spelling, we recommend sticking with the traditional name.
  5. Kandy
    • Karen
      • Origin:

        Danish variation of Katherine
      • Meaning:

        "pure"
      • Description:

        Karen is a Danish diminutive of Katherine, an English name derived from the Greek Aikaterine. The etymology of Aikaterine is contested, but generally considered to have arisen from the Greek root katharos, meaning "pure." Kaja is a related name, as it is another Danish variation of Katherine.
    • Katy
      • Origin:

        Short form of Katherine
      • Meaning:

        "pure"
      • Description:

        Katy, or more popularly Katie, stood fashionably on their own two feet for several years there, during the Katelyn boom. But now both Katy and Katie are fading in favor of grownup Kate or buttoned-up Katherine.
    • Katya
      • Origin:

        Russian, diminutive of Ekatarina, Russian variation of Katherine
      • Meaning:

        "pure"
      • Description:

        One of the warm and earthy Russian nickname names now coming into style. Denzel Washington gave his daughter the Katia spelling.
    • Kelly
      • Origin:

        Irish
      • Meaning:

        "war"
      • Description:

        Once the quintessential bouncy teenager name, Kelly helped launch the trend of unisex Irish names . But it now takes a backseat to more substantial surname names like Kennedy.
    • Kendall
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "valley of the river Kent"
      • Description:

        Kendall, as used for a girl, was initially propelled by a soap opera character (Sarah Michelle Gellar as Kendall Hart in All My Children) and reality star and Kardashian sister Kendall Jenner.
    • Kennedy
      • Origin:

        Irish
      • Meaning:

        "misshapen head"
      • Description:

        This attractive surname name still projects that Kennedy family charisma. While it didn't come into widespread use until long after the deaths of martyred heroes President John F. or Senator Robert Kennedy, Kennedy is now one of the most popular unisex names for girls as well as the top girls' name starting with K. This is one name that manages to sound trendy and classic at the same time.
    • Kenya
      • Origin:

        Place name, Kikuyu
      • Meaning:

        "mountain of white"
      • Description:

        Kenya, a name borrowed from the East African nation and theoretically unisex, is now used mostly for girls. While it's had its ups and downs since entering the US Top 1000 in 1968, it currently ranks lower than spelling variant Kenia.
    • Kiara
      • Origin:

        Variation of the Italian Chiara or the Irish Ciara or Aboriginal Australian, Korean
      • Meaning:

        "light, clear; little dark one; cockatoo; first ray of sun"
      • Description:

        Kiara can be considered a variation of both the Italian name Chiara and the Irish name Ciara. Chiara is the Italian form of Clara, meaning "bright" or "clear," while Ciara is the feminine form of male given name Ciar, derived from the old Irish cíar, meaning "dark."
    • Kim
      • Origin:

        English diminutive of Kimberly; Vietnamese; Scandinavian diminutive of Joachima; Soviet name
      • Description:

        Kim was the coolest name... of the 1960s. Kim was popularized by actress Kim Novak, and its energy is still maintained by rapper Lil' Kim, but it holds lil' or no appeal for new babies. Parents who like Kim's short, sweet sound might look to a choice such as Sam, Lou, or Belle.
    • Kimora
      • Origin:

        Modern name, meaning unknown
      • Description:

        Afro-Asian model, designer, and entrepreneur Kimora Lee Simmons brought this name into the public eye and it enjoyed more than a decade in the Top 1000 during the 2000s and early 2010s. It peaked in 2008 when it reached the Top 300, but it has since been in decline, becoming an on-off visitor to the US charts.

        The exact meaning of Kimora is unknown, though one possibility is that it's a nod the Japanese surname, Kimura, meaning "woods + village". Back in the US Top 1000 for 2023, Kimora could also feel like an updated form of Kim or Maura, and a spin on more popular Kora.
    • Krystal
      • Description:

        This spelling variation of Crystal rose all the way up to #53 in the US in 1985.
    • Kahanna
      • Kasha
        • Kita
          • Laila
            • Origin:

              Spelling variation of Layla (Arabic); Sami variation of Helga (Finland)
            • Meaning:

              "night; holy"
            • Description:

              Beguiling and lovely, Laila is one of the lilting variations of Leila and Layla. It's the name of the former-boxer daughter of Muhammad Ali and of actor Shawn Wayans. In Finland, the Sami people use this in place of the Scandinavian name Helga.