Names  - Origins 

K

KAHILL: Arabic for "best friend." Relatives: Kalil, Khalila, Kailil. Namesake: Kahlil Gibran.

KANE: Irish Gaelic for "tribute," Welsh for "beautiful," and Japanaese for "golden." Consider your child a beautiful, golden tribute. Relatives: Kaine, Kain, Kayne, Keyne, Cane, Cain, Caine. Namesakes: Saint Keyne, Michael Caine, Citizen Kane, The Caine Mutiny.

KAREN: A variation of Catherine. An enduring favorite with a treasure trove of possibilities. Relatives: Karin, Karyn, Karan, Karon, Kari, Karrie, Karry, Kara, Karina, Caren, Carin, Caryn, Cari, Carrie, Carry, Cara. Namesakes: Karen Horney, Karen Allen, Kara Kennedy, Anna Karenina.

KASMIRA: Old Slavic for "demands peace." As Old Country as borscht and blinis. Relatives: Kasamira, Kasmir, Kazamira, Casmir, Casimir.

KAY: Old Welsh for "rejoicer" and Old German for "fort." A succinct letter name. Relatives: Kay, Kai, MacKay. Namesakes: Sir Kay of the Round Table, Kaye Ballard, Kai Winding, Danny Kaye.

KEANE: Middle English for "sharp-witted." Can be pronounced "Kane" or "Kene." Relatives: Kean, Keen, Keene. Namesakes: Tom Kean, Keene (N.H.).

KEEFE: Irish Gaelic for "noble." Relatives: Keefer, Kiefer, Keever. Namesakes: Kiefer Sutherland, Georgia O'Keeffe.

KEEGAN: Irish Gaelic for "little fierce one." If you are looking for something like Megan but with a twist, try this for a girl. Relative: Keagan.

KEELY: Irish Gaelic for "good-looking." A name that manages to sound both classy and casual. Relatives: Keeley, Kealy, Keel, Keelan, Keeler. Namesakes: Keely Smith, Ruby Keeler.

KEENAN: Irish Gaelic for "little ancient one." Relatives: Kienan, Keanan, Keen. Namesakes: Keenan Wynn.

KEITH: Irish Gaelic for "battlefield" and Old Welsh for "forest." You can't go wrong with Keith. Namesakes: Keith Richards, Keith Carradine, David Keith.

KELDA: Old Norse for "spring." This is as rare as hen's teeth but sweet. Relatives: Kelley, Kelly, Kel, Kell.

KELILAH: Hebrew for "laurel wreath." Suggests an air of mystery. Relatives: Kelila, Kyla, Kylia, Kaily, Kaile.

KELLY: Irish Gaelic for "warrior." Once as Irish as a shamrock, Kelly has become an all-American name for either lads or lassies. Relatives: Kelley, Keller, Kelli, Kellen, Kellia. Namesakes: Kelly McGillis, Ellsworth Kelly, kelly green.

KELSEY: From the Old Norse for "shipping harbor." A delightful variation on Casey or Chelsea. Relatives: Kelsi, Kelsy, Kelcie, Kelson, Kelton. Namesake: Linda Kelsey, Kelsey Gramer.

KELVIN: Irish Gaelic for "narrow river." Kelvin offers a neat little spin on the standard Kevin. Relatives: Kelvan, Kelven, Kelvyn, Kel. Namesakes: Kelvin Bryant, Baron Kelvin of Largs.

KEMP: From the Middle English for "champion." Make sure this baby starts training for the Olympics immediately. Relatives: Kempy, Kem, Kemper, Kemplen, Kempson. Namesakes: Jack Kemp, Victor Kemper.

KENDALL: Celtic for "ruler of the valley." A solid, forthright name of a boy or girl. The variations offer room to maneuver. Relatives: Kendal, Kendell, Kendel, Kendalia, Kendaline, Kenna, Kendra, Ken, Kenny. Namesake: Kay Kendall.

KENNEDY: Irish Gaelic for "helmeted warrior" and a clan name. Naming children for presidents has fallen off during the last few administrations, but little Kennedys are beginning to enter the job market. Relatives: Kennady, Kenny, Ken. Namesakes: John F. Kennedy, George Kennedy, William Kennedy.

KENNETH: Irish Gaelic for "handsome" and Old English for "royal oath." A cousin of Kevin and Keith, this is a noble old Irish name. Relatives: Kennet, Kenny, Kenney, Ken, Kenn. Namesakes: Kenneth Grahame, Kenneth Cole, Kenny Rogers, Ken Rosewall, Ken Russell, Ken Kesey.

KENRICK: Old English for "bold ruler." Relatives: Kendrick, Kendric, Kenway, Kenley, Kennard.

KENT: Old Welsh for "bright white." Kent has a clean-as-a-whistle sound. Although a bit hard-edged for a baby, remember they do grow up. Relatives: Kenton, Kenyon. Namesakes: Princess Michael of Kent, "Clark Kent," Kenyon College.

KERMIT: Irish Gaelic for "freeman." Does Miss Piggy know this? Namesakes: Kermit Roosevelt, Kermit Washington.

KERR: Norse for "marshland" and a Scottish surname. May be pronounced "Cur" or "Car." Relatives: Keir, Kirby. Namesakes: Keir Dullea, Kirby Puckett, Graham Ker, Deborah Kerr, George Kirby.

KERRY: Irish Gaelic for "dark eyes." A great androgynous name that can be used as a variation on Carrie or Cary. Relatives: Kerrie, Keri, Kerwin.

KEVIN: Irish Gaelic for "gentle." Saint Kevin was a sixth-century Irish saint who sought refuge from the outside world (and women specifically) on an uninhabited island. Relatives: Kevan, Keven, Kev. Namesakes: Kevin Kline, Kevin Costner, Kevin Bacon.

KEZIA: From the Hebrew for "cinnamon." Relatives: Keesha, Keziah, Ketzia, Kezzy, Keisha, Keishia, Keshia, Lakeisha. Namesake: Keshia Knight Pulliam.

KIERAN: Irish Gaelic for "dark one." A deeply Irish name, Kieran melds nicely with an "O" surname. Relatives: Kieron, Key, Kerwin, Kirwin, Kerry, Kern, Kerr, Ceirnin, Carra, Ciaran. Namesakes: Kieron Moore, John Kieran.

KILLIAN: Irish Gaelic for "fighter," "cell," or "strife." A kill, in Dutch, is a small channel of water. It is often used in place names such as Catskill. Relatives: Kilian, Kelian. Namesakes: Killian's Red beer.

KIM: Old English for "chief." Rudyard Kipling's novel Kim tells the story of orphan Kimball O'Hara who joins a holy man in his treks through India. Kim is also a nationally popular name in Korea. Relatives: Kym, Kimmi, Kimmey, Kimmy, Kimball, Kimble, Kimbell, Kemble. Namesakes: Kim Novak, Kim Hunter, Kim Bassinger.

KIMBERLY: Old English for "from the castle meadow." An engaging name with an enchanting meaning. Kimberly's popularity is attributable to the diamond-mining center in South Africa. There is another Kimberley in Western Australia where gold was discovered in 1882, setting off the country's first major gold rush. Relatives: Kimberley, Kymberly, Kimby, Kim, Kimmi, Kimmie, Kimmy. Namesake: Kimberly-Clark.

KING: Old English for "ruler." Perhaps not the most democratic choice, but it certainly commands attention. Relatives: Kingsley, Kingston, Kingswell. Namesakes: King Vidor, Kingsley Amis, Charles Kingsley.

KIPP: Old English for "sharply pointed hill." Relatives: Kinnard, Kinnell, Kippy, Kipper, Kipling. Namesakes: Galway Kinnell, Kipp's Bay.

KIRK: Old Norse for "church." In Scotland, a kirk refers to a church associated with the national church of Scotland. A Kirkman is a member of this church. Relatives: Kirkley, Kirkwood, Kirby, Kurk, Kirkus. Namesakes: Kirk Douglas, Kirk Cameron, "Captain James T. Kirk."

KIRSTEN: Old English for "stone church." Offers a series of winsome variations on Christine, from which it is derived. Relatives: Kristine, Kirstin, Kirstie, Kirsty, Kirsti. Namesake: Kirstie Alley.

KNOX: Old English for "from the hills." As in "knife," the "K" is silent. Relative: Knoll. Namesakes: John Knox, Knox Burger, Fort Knox.

KNUT: From the Danish for "kindness." This monicker guarantees him a scholarship to Notre Dame. Relatives: Knute, Knud, Cnut, Cnutte, Canute. Namesakes: Knute Rockne, King Knut.

KOREN: From the Greek for "maiden." Relatives: Kori, Korry, Korrie. Namesake: Edward Koren

KURT: An abbreviated form of Conrad. Relatives: Kert, Kirt. Namesakes: Kurt Russell, Kurt Vonnegut.

KYLE: Scottish Gaelic for "strait." LaCoste shirts, chinos, and Topsiders will look spiffy on this kid. Relatives: Kylene, Kylie. Namesakes: Kyle Rote, Kylene Baker.

KYNA: Irish Gaelic for "intelligence" and a feminine version of Conan. You'll never find preprinted balloons or key chains with this one. Dare to be different. Relatives: Kyne, Cyna, Cyne.

~ THE BEST NAME FOR YOUR BABY: A CREATIVE GUIDE TO PROPER NAMES, by Barbara Binswanger and Lisbeth Mark. Henry Holt and Co., New York, 1990.