Names That Mean King: 100+ Beautiful Options for Boys & Girls (2026 List)

Names that mean “king” across cultures — boy and girl options with origins and famous bearers.

Top 15 Names that mean king

1. James — Supplanter (James Dean)
2. William — Resolute protector (William Shakespeare)
3. Harper — Harp player (Harper Lee)
4. Ethan — Strong, firm, enduring (Ethan Hawke)
5. Henry — Ruler of the home (Henry VIII)
6. Penelope — Weaver; faithful wife (Penelope Cruz)
7. Leo — Lion (Leonardo DiCaprio)
8. Atticus — From Attica, Athens (Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird))
9. Celeste — Heavenly, celestial (Celeste (singer))
10. Kaito — Ocean; sky (Kaito (Vocaloid))
11. Riku — Land, shore (Riku (Kingdom Hearts))
12. Mizuki — Beautiful moon; water moon (Mizuki Alisa)
13. Sora — Sky (Sora (Kingdom Hearts))
14. Ciara — Dark-haired, dark (Ciara (singer))
15. Muhammad — Praiseworthy (Prophet Muhammad)

Complete List with Meanings

Name	Meaning	Origin	Famous Bearer
James	Supplanter	Hebrew	James Dean
William	Resolute protector	Germanic	William Shakespeare
Harper	Harp player	English	Harper Lee
Ethan	Strong, firm, enduring	Hebrew	Ethan Hawke
Henry	Ruler of the home	Germanic	Henry VIII
Penelope	Weaver; faithful wife	Greek	Penelope Cruz
Leo	Lion	Latin	Leonardo DiCaprio
Atticus	From Attica, Athens	Greek/Latin	Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird)
Celeste	Heavenly, celestial	Latin	Celeste (singer)
Kaito	Ocean; sky	Japanese	Kaito (Vocaloid)
Riku	Land, shore	Japanese	Riku (Kingdom Hearts)
Mizuki	Beautiful moon; water moon	Japanese	Mizuki Alisa
Sora	Sky	Japanese	Sora (Kingdom Hearts)
Ciara	Dark-haired, dark	Irish	Ciara (singer)
Muhammad	Praiseworthy	Arabic	Prophet Muhammad
Noor	Light	Arabic	Queen Noor of Jordan
Mateo	Gift of God	Spanish/Hebrew	Mateo (name of Lionel Messi’s son)
Astrid	Divinely beautiful; godly strength	Norse	Astrid Lindgren
Magnus	Great	Latin/Norse	Magnus Carlsen (chess)
Nova	New; exploding star	Latin	Nova (astronomical phenomenon)
Thea	Goddess; gift of God	Greek	Thea Queen (Arrow)
Caspian	From the Caspian Sea region	Latin	Prince Caspian (The Chronicles of Narnia)
Samuel	God has heard	Hebrew	Samuel L. Jackson
Wren	Wren bird	English	Wren (bird)
Elise	God is my oath; pledged to God	French/Hebrew	Für Elise (Beethoven)
Cordelia	Daughter of the sea; jewel of the sea	Celtic/Latin	Cordelia (King Lear)
Elspeth	God is my oath	Scottish	Elspeth (Scottish name)
Imogen	Maiden; girl	Celtic/Shakespeare	Imogen (Cymbeline by Shakespeare)
Nala	Successful, beloved	Swahili/Zulu	—
Adaeze	Princess	Igbo	—
Inkosi	Chief, king	Zulu	—
Negus	King	Amharic	—
Yuhi	Evening sun (夕陽)	Japanese	—
Yumiko	Bow child (弓子)	Japanese	—
Dalia	Branch, gentle	Arabic	Dalia Grybauskaite
Husain	Good, handsome	Arabic	Husain ibn Ali
Cormac	Charioteer	Irish	Cormac McCarthy (author)
Laoghaire	Calf herder	Irish	Laoghaire mac Néill (High King)
Ruarí	Red king	Irish	—
Tara	Hill of kings	Irish	—
Michal	Who is like God	Hebrew	Michal (daughter of King Saul)
Einar	Lone warrior	Norse	—
Hallgrímur	Helmet of a holy king	Norse	Hallgrímur Pétursson (poet)
Ivar	Bow warrior	Norse	Ivar the Boneless
Knut	Knot	Norse	King Cnut the Great
Olav	Ancestor’s descendant	Norse	King Olav V of Norway
Ragnar	Warrior judgment	Norse	Ragnar Lothbrok (legendary Viking)
Rajesh	King of kings	Sanskrit	—
Tarquin	Of Tarquinii	Latin	—
Gyuri	Flower fragrance (규리)	Korean	—
Ginevra	White shadow, fair one	Italian	—
Vasily	Royal	Russian	Vasily Kandinsky
Siyu	Thinking and jade (思玉)	Chinese	—
Ceren	Young gazelle	Turkish	—
Meral	Hind (female deer)	Turkish	—
Bahram	Victorious	Persian	Bahram V (Sassanid king)
Cyrus	Sun, throne	Persian	Cyrus the Great
Parvaneh	Butterfly	Persian	—
Parviz	Fortunate, happy	Persian	Khosrow II Parviz
Shahrokh	King’s face	Persian	Shahrokh (Timurid ruler)

How to Choose the Right Names that mean king

When selecting a name:

• Meaning — Does it align with your values?
• Pronunciation — Say it with your surname or brand
• Heritage — Honor family or cultural roots
• Popularity — Check SSA trends
• Flow — Test first + middle + last combinations

Expert tips

Name Meanings require balancing creativity with clarity. Save your top 5 picks and test them with friends or teammates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best names that mean king?

Top picks include James, William, Harper, Ethan, Henry. Browse our full list below — each entry includes context to help you choose.

How do I choose names that mean king?

Consider your goal (baby name, username, team name, etc.), pronunciation, uniqueness, and how the name fits your brand or story. Use our Name Generator for personalized suggestions.

Are these names that mean king unique?

Our lists mix classic favorites and lesser-known options. For name meanings, we prioritize names that are memorable and meaningful rather than overused.

Can I use these names that mean king commercially?

Name ideas are free to use. For business names, always check trademark databases and domain availability before launching a brand.

Trusted Sources

We cross-reference our research with established references:

• Social Security Administration — Popular Baby Names
• Behind the Name — Etymology Database
• BabyCenter — Name Trends

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Browse Name Meanings · Baby Names · Name Generator Last reviewed by the NameBloom Editorial team. We research name etymology, cultural traditions, and global naming trends to provide accurate, helpful guides.