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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Are there any K names that are not tacky?

444 replies

JCes · 12/06/2026 13:00

Are there any feminine K names that are more traditional and old-fashioned? I really dislike modern and trendy sounding names. I also dislike C names that have recently been turned into K names. The Kylie, Kaylee, Kadence, Kallie, Kinley, Kaitlyn, Krystal, Karly, Khloe, Kenzie type of names are not for me. They're all very similar in style to me, and I just find them to be tacky. They also feel very mean girl/bully. (This won't make sense to everyone, but I'm sure some will know what I mean.)

An example of a name that I do like is Katherine, but there are simply too many in the family. I also like just plain Kay, but it seems a bit underwhelming as a first name. It's more often a middle name and shortening of other K names. Karen is no longer a possibility for obvious reasons...

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hourspassed · 12/06/2026 13:55

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 12/06/2026 13:40

That always brings to mind a Victoria Wood sketch which I’m afraid was not flattering to Kimberleys.

"Have ya seen me friend, Kimberley? She's really, really tall and really, really wide. And goes round with bits of ceiling in her hair!"

Thanks for the memory there @GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER Victoria Wood was an absolute legend!

KRG500 · 12/06/2026 13:55

Keira, Kyra/ Kaira, Kari, Katrina, Kayla, Kitty, Katie

LeftBoobGoneRogue · 12/06/2026 13:56

Keziah

battairzeedurgzome · 12/06/2026 13:56

I'd go with one of Job's daughters: Keziah or Kerenhappuch.

SomethingUniqueThisTime · 12/06/2026 13:57

Kerensa

ClearlyNoIdea · 12/06/2026 13:57

My work colleague's daughter is Kora.

Tonissister · 12/06/2026 13:57

HogletPatricia · 12/06/2026 13:15

Kore (pronounced Core-ee - another name used for Persephone in Greek mythology)

Katja or Katia (could be Kay as nn)
Kristin, Kristina
Katerina
Kassandra (it might seem like a C name but it was a Greek name originally so K not C.)
Klara (the Germanic or Nordic spelling is with a K not a C)

RafaFan · 12/06/2026 13:59

JimBobsWife · 12/06/2026 13:51

By that logic shouldn’t Keir (which is presumably the masculine version of Kiera) be Kier?

Depends on the origin of the name. Keir is an ancient place name in Scotland, it's been around since the 14th century.

ClearlyNoIdea · 12/06/2026 14:00

Amiacoolorwarmcolour · 12/06/2026 13:53

Kate.
I think most K names are much better with the C spelling.
Irish names are never spelt with a K, those are the bastardised versions and possibly where the chav connection comes in.
I can’t do fadas on my phone but Ciaran is one example.
Kieran is wrong.
Cillian is another example, not Kilian.
Even Catherine is a better spelling than spelt with a K.

One 100% agree. My brother is called Ciarán and I balk when I see him called Kieran. And all my English relatives do it.

MimiSunshine · 12/06/2026 14:00

Kerry, Kerrie, Keri
Kate
Kayla

Latenightreader · 12/06/2026 14:01

battairzeedurgzome · 12/06/2026 13:56

I'd go with one of Job's daughters: Keziah or Kerenhappuch.

I have both of those names in my family tree! I was going to suggest Kezia(h)

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 12/06/2026 14:02

wishingonastar101 · 12/06/2026 13:26

Karenza? Like a massive Karen?

Traditional Cornish name meaning “Love”.

AnonSugar · 12/06/2026 14:02

Katie would be my choice.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 12/06/2026 14:03

Karin

Dollymylove · 12/06/2026 14:03

Karyn

JacketPotatoFoodOfTheGods · 12/06/2026 14:03

Karys or Keira

ThisZingy · 12/06/2026 14:04

JimBobsWife · 12/06/2026 13:51

By that logic shouldn’t Keir (which is presumably the masculine version of Kiera) be Kier?

I don't know the origin of Keir well enough to say. In the case of Kiera/Kieran, they come from the Irish names Ciara/Ciaran. The i naturally goes before the e/a in all of these instances. I can't imagine that anyone would ever spell Ciaran as Cairan.

Nothavingagoodvalentinesday · 12/06/2026 14:05

Nothavingagoodvalentinesday · 12/06/2026 13:52

Kasia or Kasiah. It’s a biblical name and very unusual.

Just looked it up. The name I was thinking of is actually Keziah. She was one of Job’s daughters. I do know a Kasia, or maybe it is Kazia. She has polish parents.

ClearlyNoIdea · 12/06/2026 14:06

You could also have Kayla or Kyla

Beachtastic · 12/06/2026 14:07

I'm waiting for Ketamina to become the next fad name 🫣😜

BlueOrangeDreams · 12/06/2026 14:08

Kirsty
Kiera
Katie
Keziah
Karina
Katerina
Katalina
Keren

Id not that some of the K/C names are with K in other languages not necessarily tacky

Throwitback · 12/06/2026 14:09

Katie
Kitty
Kate
Katherine
Kinvara

Firebird83 · 12/06/2026 14:10

Kitty
Kathleen
Kerensa
Kenna
Kendra
Kaia
Kezia
Keturah

Neuronimo · 12/06/2026 14:11

Not sure of Kiri has been mentioned. Like the Opera singer Kiri Te Kanawar.

Pld · 12/06/2026 14:11

I like Kitty, Kate and Katie but would consider them diminutives of Katherine, although perhaps that doesn't matter.

Kirsty is very 80s/early 90s to me but perhaps that was just in Scotland.