Knox
Meaninground hill · Scottish
- US rank
- #196
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #196 in 2025
1,836 babies were named Knox in the US in 2025. It has climbed 42 places in five years.
Found on lists
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US births per million boys, 1881–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Knox you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 930 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Knox, 1,836 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Knox would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryKnox first shows up in US birth records in 1881, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 144 years since.
- Best yearKnox is at its all-time high right now: #196 in 2025.
- Then vs nowKnox is 96× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 89,286 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 930.
- TrendKnox has climbed 42 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #196. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedKnox is most popular in Nebraska, where it ranks #49, followed by Wyoming (#72) and Iowa (#76). It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- MeaningIn Scottish, Knox means “round hill”.
About the name Knox
Knox is a boy name of English origin meaning “round hill”. It has 4 letters and 1 syllable, starting with K and ending in “-nox”. US birth records list Knox for boys from 1881 to 2025, in 103 of those 145 years. Its best year was 2025, when it ranked #196 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #196, with 1,836 babies.
Origin:English names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 15 | 65,550 boys |
| 1890s | 4.2 | 239,234 boys |
| 1900s | 13 | 76,511 boys |
| 1910s | 14 | 71,327 boys |
| 1920s | 16 | 63,573 boys |
| 1930s | 9.0 | 110,742 boys |
| 1940s | 7.8 | 127,389 boys |
| 1950s | 4.6 | 215,983 boys |
| 1960s | 2.1 | 485,437 boys |
| 1970s | 1.1 | 869,565 boys |
| 1980s | 1.6 | 625,000 boys |
| 1990s | 6.6 | 151,745 boys |
| 2000s | 38 | 26,567 boys |
| 2010s | 645 | 1,552 boys |
| 2020s | 1,013 | 987 boys |
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Knox
What does the name Knox mean?
Knox means “round hill” in Scottish.
What is the origin of the name Knox?
Knox has English roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Knox a boy or girl name?
Knox is a boy name, though a few girls get it too.
How popular is the name Knox?
Knox ranked #196 for US boys in 2025, given to 1,836 babies. Its best year was 2025 (#196).