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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...

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
17caterpillars1mouse · 12/06/2026 15:08

Keturah

Jamclag · 12/06/2026 15:10

Kate
Kitty
Katya
Katherine
Katrine
Kirsten
Kristin
Kassandra
But there's nothing intrinsically wrong with replacing a hard C name with a K if that's your preference.

HoldMyWine · 12/06/2026 15:11

Kiki

Sidebeforeself · 12/06/2026 15:17

Bridesmaidorexfriend · 12/06/2026 15:00

I feel personally attacked

edited to say - seeing some of the name suggestions - maybe just pick a different letter. Kay is a horrible name. If you have to I’d go Katherine. And please don’t call a child Kitty

Edited

You do realise there might be people on this thread called Kay ( ..ahem..)

Sidebeforeself · 12/06/2026 15:18

hourspassed · 12/06/2026 13:55

"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!

And when she laughs chips come down her nose!

AverageWhiteShark · 12/06/2026 15:18

How about Kalinka? It's Siberian and there is a song of the same name.

SingleSexSpacesInSchools · 12/06/2026 15:19

Kathleen
Katharine
Katrina
Keziah
Keturah
Kerensa
Kitty
Kate
Kirsten
Karin

Bridesmaidorexfriend · 12/06/2026 15:20

Sidebeforeself · 12/06/2026 15:17

You do realise there might be people on this thread called Kay ( ..ahem..)

The original post already lists a bunch of tacky K names. But to be fair I meant for a baby. Kay is a name for someone who is already an adult

DivorcedButHappyNow · 12/06/2026 15:20

Katharine / Katy
Kaye
Kitty

Pierregaslyshelmet · 12/06/2026 15:21

ClearlyNoIdea · 12/06/2026 14:00

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

My daughter is Ciara and I have the same reaction as you when it's spelt with a K.

Monty36 · 12/06/2026 15:21

I wouldn’t let too many people in the family put you off from using a name you like.

GreenCaterpillarOnALeaf · 12/06/2026 15:23

In my totally unbiased opinion Kathleen is one of the best names ever. Can be shortened to Kat, Kitty, Kathy, I even insisted on being called Lee at one point when I was about 7 😭.

Sidebeforeself · 12/06/2026 15:23

Bridesmaidorexfriend · 12/06/2026 15:20

The original post already lists a bunch of tacky K names. But to be fair I meant for a baby. Kay is a name for someone who is already an adult

Well I dont know how that happens if they are not called Kay as a baby! Anyway I shan’t take it too personally.

Breezy1985 · 12/06/2026 15:25

Kyra - biased though my 22yo DDs name.

BunnyLake · 12/06/2026 15:25

I can’t see anything wrong with the name Kay. There was a very pretty one at school.

Kate will probably always be my favourite K name.

One of my favourite singers is called Katrine (pronounced Katrina) so I now like that name.

Tootyfilou · 12/06/2026 15:25

I think Kate is a beautiful name.

Sidebeforeself · 12/06/2026 15:26

BunnyLake · 12/06/2026 15:25

I can’t see anything wrong with the name Kay. There was a very pretty one at school.

Kate will probably always be my favourite K name.

One of my favourite singers is called Katrine (pronounced Katrina) so I now like that name.

We must have gone to school together! 😂

LemonJuicePopcorn · 12/06/2026 15:27

Katie

ToadRage · 12/06/2026 15:28

Restcoz · 12/06/2026 13:32

Why does everyone misspell Kiera (proper spelling) as "Keira"? That would put me off that name completely!

I think you are the one misspelling it, all the Keiras i have met spell it that way.

Tbh there are not many K names i like. Of the ones I previously posted Kathleen is my fave. Always hated Kerry and Kelly, never met a nice Kirsty, Katrina is the name of an awful former boss of my husband. Kezia was a girl at school who I found very standoffish. Regarding Katherine, Katelyn, Kara I prefer with a C.

Disneyvillain · 12/06/2026 15:28

Keeley
Kelly
Kelsy
Kennedy

Bridesmaidorexfriend · 12/06/2026 15:30

Sidebeforeself · 12/06/2026 15:23

Well I dont know how that happens if they are not called Kay as a baby! Anyway I shan’t take it too personally.

But Kay’s were a baby when it was a babies name. Like Karen, and Kenneth. At some point names just become the name of a certain age group

BunnyLake · 12/06/2026 15:33

Sidebeforeself · 12/06/2026 15:26

We must have gone to school together! 😂

A pretty Kay? It was a very long time ago but she’s the only Kay I have ever come across in real life.

Shypinkpiggypants · 12/06/2026 15:33

Kitty

moose17 · 12/06/2026 15:35

Kathleen

viques · 12/06/2026 15:36

Lots of Polish girls names start with K.