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Knox

♂ Boy

Pronounced NOKS /nɒks/High

Meaning: Round hill; from Old English cnoc (hill, hillock)High

In 30 seconds: A powerful one-syllable name from Old English meaning 'round hill.' Celebrity adoption and the broader trend for short, strong boys' names have made Knox a modern standout.
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Origin HighOld English
MeaningRound hill; from Old English cnoc (hill, hillock)
Peak year2017
Total births (all-time)≈ 10,349

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201718812017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Knox is a Scottish and English surname derived from Old English cnoc ('knoll, hillock, round hill'). The most famous historical bearer is John Knox (c. 1514–1572), the Scottish minister who led the Protestant Reformation in Scotland. The Jolie-Pitt naming in 2008 significantly boosted its use as a first name.

Knox entered the U.S. top 500 boys' names in the 2000s and climbed rapidly after 2008. Its single-syllable force, historical weight, and current stylishness make it one of the most fashionable short boys' names. It sits comfortably with similarly punchy names like Jett, Cole, and Colt.

Did you know? Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt named their son Knox in 2008 — the same year they named a daughter Vivienne — bringing this Scottish reformer's surname into the 21st-century baby name charts.

Variations

Knocks

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★John Knox (c. 1514–1572)
    Scottish Protestant reformer who led the Reformation in Scotland.
  • ★Knox Jolie-Pitt (b. 2008)
    Son of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, whose birth significantly boosted the name's popularity.

If you like Knox…

Jett— similarly punchy one-syllable celebrity-boosted name
Maddox— celebrity-boosted surname name with a sharp consonant ending
Beckett— literary English surname name on the same rise

Frequently Asked

What does the name Knox mean?

Knox is an Old English surname meaning 'round hill' or 'knoll,' from the word cnoc.

How do you pronounce Knox?

Knox is a single syllable pronounced NOKS (/nɒks/).

Is Knox a boy or girl name?

Knox is used predominantly as a boy's name.

How popular is Knox?

Knox has been rapidly rising in the U.S. since the late 2000s and is now a top-100 boys' name.