Choosing a name that carries the weight of a crown is a way of wishing strength, leadership, and dignity on a child before they ever take their first step. Names that mean king show up across nearly every language and era, from ancient Persian court names to Gaelic chieftain titles to modern Kingston style inventions.
Below you will find twenty different categories covering boy names, girl names, surnames, and names borrowed from Japanese, African, Greek, and Spanish traditions, along with a dedicated list that pairs names directly with their meanings.
Whether you want something classic like Henry or Richard, something rooted in another language like Malik or Vasilios, or something entirely modern like Kingsley or Royal, there is a royal name here to match almost any style.
How To Choose A Name That Means King
Start by deciding how literal you want the meaning to be. Some names, like Rex or Wang, translate directly to the word king. Others, like Frederick or Henry, mean peaceful ruler or ruler of the home, which carries the same spirit without being an exact match.
Consider how the name sounds with your surname, whether you want something globally recognizable or culturally specific, and whether the name should work well into adulthood in a professional setting, not just as a baby name.
Boy Names That Mean King
These are classic and modern picks built around the idea of rule and royal strength.
- Eric ๐
- Roderick ๐ฑ
- Ludwig โ๏ธ
- Kingsley ๐ต๏ธ
- Reginald ๐๏ธ
- Ronald ๐ฅ
- Regis ๐
- Cyril ๐
- Aldric ๐
- Rory ๐ก๏ธ
- Kenrick โ๏ธ
- Osric ๐ก๏ธ
- Baldric ๐น
- Everard ๐ช
- Leopold ๐ฟ
- Aric ๐ฏ๏ธ
- Ulrich ๐ฎ
- Roland ๐๏ธ
- Rolando ๐งฟ
- Dietrich ๐ฉ
- Egbert ๐งข
- Sigmund ๐
- Wolfgang โ๏ธ
- Reinhold ๐
Read More: Names That Mean Traveler
Names That Mean King Or Ruler
A broader set drawn from names that historically pointed to leadership, rule, or command.
- Khosrow ๐ฅฝ
- Jahangir ๐ถ๏ธ
- Akbar ๐ฅป
- Vasily ๐
- Vasilis ๐
- Wasyl ๐
- Emeric ๐ฅผ
- Amory ๐ฆบ
- Otto ๐ฅ
- Konrad ๐ฝ
- Harald ๐
- Canute ๐ข
- Eldric ๐ก
- Godric ๐
- Merrick ๐ฉด
- Fenwick ๐งฆ
- Dominic ๐งฃ
- Tudor ๐งค
- Wenceslas ๐
- Boleslaw ๐
- Miroslav ๐
- Vladimir ๐ฅพ
- Stanislav ๐ฅฟ
- Zoltan ๐ผ
Baby Names That Mean King
Gentle, everyday picks parents often shortlist when royal meaning matters most.
- Reyansh ๐งณ
- Rajveer ๐
- Yuvraj โ๏ธ
- Samrat ๐
- Chakravarti ๐
- Adhiraj ๐
- Rajan ๐
- Rajesh ๐
- Vasu ๐
- Aniruddha ๐
- Devraj ๐
- Balraj ๐
- Suraj โญ
- Indraj ๐
- Rajat โจ
- Rajkumar ๐ซ
- Rana โ๏ธ
- Ranveer ๐
- Ranjit ๐
- Rajbir ๐
- Rajvir ๐
- Rajdeep ๐
- Naresh ๐
- Narendra ๐
Boy Names That Mean King Or Royalty
Names built around royal imagery, crowns, and noble standing.
- Royal ๐
- Realm ๐
- Regal ๐
- Princeton ๐
- Monarch ๐
- Sterling ๐
- Ashworth โก
- Kingswell ๐
- Kingsford โ๏ธ
- Kingfield โ
- Kingman โ๏ธ
- Kingwood ๐ค๏ธ
- Kingslee ๐ฅ๏ธ
- Coronado ๐ฆ๏ธ
- Highking ๐ง๏ธ
- Kingcaid โ๏ธ
- Kingrick โ๏ธ
- Kingdon โ
- Reginel ๐จ๏ธ
- Reginar ๐ฌ๏ธ
- Coronet ๐จ
- Diadem ๐ช๏ธ
- Scepter ๐ซ๏ธ
- Ashcrown ๐
Names That Mean King For Boy
A mix of biblical and Middle Eastern names tied to kingship and rule.
- Shahin ๐ง
- Shahzad ๐ฆ
- Padishah โ
- Malachy โ๏ธ
- Balthazar ๐
- David ๐๏ธ
- Saul โฐ๏ธ
- Jotham ๐
- Uzziah ๐ป
- Josiah ๐๏ธ
- Hezekiah ๐๏ธ
- Manasseh ๐๏ธ
- Rehoboam ๐๏ธ
- Jeroboam ๐๏ธ
- Abijah ๐๏ธ
- Asa ๐๏ธ
- Jehoram ๐งฑ
- Ahaziah ๐ชจ
- Jehoash ๐ชต
- Amaziah ๐
- Zedekiah ๐
- Jehu ๐
- Omri ๐พ
- Menahem ๐ธ
Last Names That Mean King
Surnames and family names with royal or ruling roots, useful for full-name pairing.
- Kingsman ๐
- Leroy ๐น
- Corwin ๐บ
- Kingham ๐ป
- Kingori ๐ผ
- Wangui ๐ท
- Mfalme ๐ฑ
- Kingu ๐ฟ
- Kingola โ๏ธ
- Kingira ๐
- Kingiri ๐
- Kingswood ๐
- Kingswright ๐
- Kingscott ๐
- Reeves ๐
- Reeve ๐ชด
- Sherman ๐พ
- Coroner ๐ต
- Steward ๐ด
- Marischal ๐ฒ
- Landgrave ๐ณ
- Palgrave ๐ชท
- Graf ๐ฅ
- Herzog ๐ฆ
Japanese Names That Mean King
Japanese names built from elements tied to rule and leadership.
- Osamu ๐ฏ
- Tsukasa ๐
- Masaru ๐
- Kimitaka ๐ด
- Kimiaki ๐ฆ
- Naruhiko ๐
- Nobuo ๐
- Kimihiro ๐
- Kimikazu ๐
- Kimimasa ๐ฎ
- Kimitoshi ๐ฆฌ
- Kimiyoshi ๐
- Kimiharu ๐ฆฃ
- Kimiteru ๐ฆ
- Kimichika ๐ฆ
- Kimitsugu ๐ป
- Kimiyasu ๐จ
- Kimihisa ๐ผ
- Kimikuni ๐ฆฅ
- Kimimoto ๐ฆฆ
- Kimisato ๐ฆจ
- Kimimori ๐ฆก
- Kiminobu ๐ฆซ
- Kimishige ๐ฟ๏ธ
African Names That Mean King
Names drawn from West, East, and Southern African royal titles and traditions.
- Negus ๐ฆ
- Oba ๐
- Osei ๐
- Jaja ๐
- Nnamdi ๐
- Adewale ๐
- Kgosi ๐ฆฎ
- Kwame ๐ฉ
- Kunle ๐บ
- Olamide ๐ฆ
- Oyelowo ๐ฆ
- Oladipo ๐
- Temitope ๐
- Adeyemi ๐
- Osayande ๐
- Chibundu ๐
- Chukwuma ๐ซ
- Obiora ๐ช
- Ikenna ๐ฆ
- Chidubem ๐ฆ
- Amaechi ๐ฆ
- Nkosi ๐ฆ
- Kabiru ๐ฆ
- Semakula ๐ฆ
Baby Boy Names That Mean King
Irish and Gaelic-rooted names, many linked to old kings and chieftains.
- Reigan ๐ฆ
- Elrek ๐ฆข
- Lorcan ๐ฆฉ
- Tadhg ๐๏ธ
- Ruairi ๐
- Conchobar ๐ฆ
- Domhnall ๐ฆ
- Muircheartach ๐ง
- Aodh ๐ฆ
- Cathal ๐ฆ
- Fearghal ๐ฅ
- Niall ๐ค
- Brian ๐ฃ
- Cormac ๐ชถ
- Diarmuid ๐
- Eoghan ๐ฒ
- Fionn ๐
- Lugh ๐ฆ
- Turlough ๐ข
- Aengus ๐
- Cianan ๐ฆ
- Ronan ๐ฆ
- Senan ๐ฌ
- Tighearnan ๐ณ
Read More: Names That Mean Royalty
Names That Mean King In Different Languages
The word for king borrowed and adapted from languages around the world.
- Kral ๐
- Koning ๐ฆ
- Konge ๐
- Kuningas ๐
- Krol ๐ก
- Kralj ๐ฆ
- Kuninkas ๐
- Kongelig ๐ฆ
- Regele ๐ฆ
- Sarki ๐ฆ
- Melekh ๐ฆช
- Basileus ๐
- Roi ๐
- Rey ๐ฆ
- Datu ๐
- Kirali ๐จ
- Kirol โ๏ธ
- Vua ๐ ๏ธ
- Rix โ๏ธ
- Riks ๐ง
- Konungr ๐ฉ
- Cyning โ๏ธ
- Shah ๐๏ธ
- Ard-ri โ๏ธ
Boy Names That Mean King Or Prince
Names that lean toward princely and heir-apparent meanings.
- Sheikh ๐ฌ
- Yuvaraja ๐ญ
- Dauphin ๐ก
- Infante ๐ก
- Czarevich ๐ฆ
- Tsarevich ๐ฎ
- Atheling ๐ช
- Waleed ๐งญ
- Hakim ๐บ๏ธ
- Malikzada ๐
- Shahzada ๐
- Rajkumaar ๐
- Rajkishore ๐
- Princewill ๐
- Princeley ๐
- Crownson ๐
- Heirwell ๐
- Regentfield ๐ซ
- Thronefield ๐
- Zarevich ๐
- Shahriar ๐
- Shahram ๐ฅญ
- Farrukh ๐
- Behzad ๐ฅฅ
Names That Mean King Or Leader
Titles and leadership words reimagined as strong given names.
- Duke ๐ฅ
- Earl ๐
- Chief ๐
- Elder ๐ฅ
- Warden ๐ฅฆ
- Marshal ๐ฅฌ
- Consul ๐ฅ
- Doge ๐ถ๏ธ
- Emperor ๐ซ
- Shogun ๐ฝ
- Caesar ๐ฅ
- Pharaoh ๐ซ
- Sachem ๐ง
- Cacique ๐ง
- Khagan ๐ฅ
- Vizier ๐
- Premier ๐ฅ
- Chancellor ๐ฅฏ
- Governor ๐
- Alderman ๐ฅ
- Overlord ๐ฅจ
- Commander ๐ง
- Taoiseach ๐ฅ
- Presiding ๐ณ
Male Names That Mean King
Names from royal houses and imperial history, several tied to real dynasties.
- Reggis ๐ง
- Regulo ๐ฅ
- Regulus ๐ง
- Domitian ๐ฅ
- Augustus ๐ฅฉ
- Maximilian ๐
- Aurelian ๐
- Constantine ๐ญ
- Diocletian ๐
- Justinian ๐
- Theodoric ๐
- Chilperic ๐ซ
- Clovis ๐ฅช
- Dagobert ๐ฎ
- Pepin ๐ฏ
- Charlemagne ๐ซ
- Lothair ๐ฅ
- Robert ๐ง
- William ๐ฅ
- Edmund ๐ฒ
- Edgar ๐ซ
- Athelstan ๐ฅฃ
- Cnut ๐ฟ
- Aethelred ๐ง
Names That Mean King Or Queen
Names that work for either a king or a queen, useful for gender-neutral shortlists.
- Reina ๐ฅซ
- Reyna ๐ฑ
- Kinga ๐
- Regina ๐
- Sarai ๐
- Alessandra ๐
- Basilia ๐
- Vasilia ๐
- Tsarina ๐ข
- Kaiserin ๐ฃ
- Empress ๐ค
- Coralina ๐ฅ
- Diademma ๐ฅฎ
- Reginetta ๐ก
- Malkia ๐ฅ
- Sultana ๐ฅ
- Khatun ๐ฅก
- Begum ๐ฆ
- Rani ๐ง
- Maharani ๐จ
- Padmini ๐ฉ
- Devika ๐ช
- Ratna ๐
- Kamala ๐ฐ
Girl Names That Mean King
Feminine names built on royal roots, several adapted directly from king-related words.
- Kimberly ๐ง
- Regine ๐ฅง
- Reyansha ๐ซ
- Reganne ๐ฌ
- Princessa ๐ญ
- Royalene ๐ฎ
- Coralynn ๐ฏ
- Regita ๐ผ
- Reinette ๐ฅ
- Vasilika โ
- Basilissa ๐ซ
- Melekha ๐ต
- Malikah ๐ถ
- Adaeze ๐พ
- Ada ๐ท
- Ify ๐ธ
- Chidinma ๐น
- Olayinka ๐บ
- Adaora ๐ป
- Adanna ๐ฅ
- Kaisara ๐ฅ
- Wangari ๐ฅค
- Vasilina ๐ง
- Vasilena ๐ง
Names For Boys That Mean King
More creative, modern options that lean on Kingston-style compounds.
- Kingcastle ๐ง
- Errege ๐ง
- Rege โ
- Reyad โ
- Reyaan โ
- Kingley โ
- Kingborn โ
- Kingfell โ
- Kingholt โ
- Kingmere โ
- Kingrose โ
- Kingsale โ
- Kingshill โ
- Kingsmede โ
- Kingsholm โ
- Kingsbarn โฏ๏ธ
- Kingsfell โฎ๏ธ
- Kingsmoor โช๏ธ
- Kingsvale ๐๏ธ
- Kingswick โธ๏ธ
- Kingsburn โก๏ธ
- Kingscote ๐ฏ
- Kingoak ๐ฏ
- Kingash ๐ฒ
Names That Mean Kingdom
Names inspired by the idea of a realm or ruled territory, not just the ruler.
- Reyno ๐ฎ
- Reino ๐น๏ธ
- Regno ๐ฐ
- Regnum ๐งฉ
- Basileia ๐ช
- Mamlaka ๐ช
- Realmwood ๐ญ
- Realmson ๐ผ๏ธ
- Realmborn ๐จ
- Realmcrest ๐งต
- Realmwick ๐งถ
- Territoria ๐ชก
- Statehold ๐๏ธ
- Landrik ๐๏ธ
- Kingdomir โ๏ธ
- Kingdomar ๐๏ธ
- Reame ๐
- Riche ๐ฏ
- Reich ๐
- Riget ๐
- Rike ๐ฃ
- Rijk ๐ข
- Regnia ๐
- Regnara ๐
Greek Names That Mean King
Names built on the Greek root basileus, meaning king or sovereign.
- Vasilios ๐
- Vasos ๐ป
- Vassos ๐๏ธ
- Vasileios ๐๏ธ
- Vassilis ๐๏ธ
- Vasilas ๐งจ
- Vasileos ๐
- Vassilios ๐
- Basilis ๐
- Vasilo ๐ช
- Vasilaki ๐
- Vasileiadis ๐
- Vasilikos ๐
- Vasilikis ๐ฐ
- Vasios ๐ฏ
- Vasyl ๐
- Vaso ๐
- Vasili ๐
- Vasilogiannis โฉ๏ธ
- Vasiliou ๐ผ
- Vasilikas ๐ฝ
- Vasilogeorgis ๐
- Vasilaras ๐ฉ
- Vasilenko ๐ณ๏ธ
Spanish Names That Mean King
Names built on the Spanish word rey, meaning king.
- Reyes ๐ด
- Reynaldo ๐
- Reinaldo ๐
- Reyerson ๐ธ
- Reynerio ๐ฐ๏ธ
- Reyoso โ๏ธ
- Reygosa ๐
- Reyome โต
- Reymundo ๐ข
- Reimundo ๐ณ๏ธ
- Reinoso โ
- Reinosa ๐ช
- Reyver ๐
- Reyvel ๐
- Reylan ๐
- Reyfer ๐
- Reynier ๐
- Reyner ๐
- Reyol ๐
- Reyul ๐
- Reycito ๐
- Reyandro ๐
- Reymar ๐
- Reygio ๐
Read More: Names That Mean Princess
Names That Mean King With Their Meanings
Here each name is paired with a short, plain-language meaning.
- Malik: means king in Arabic ๐
- Kian: Persian, meaning king ๐
- Cyrus: Persian royal name, throne bearer ๐
- Darius: Persian, holds firm the good ๐
- Basil: Greek, kingly or royal ๐
- Konig: German surname meaning king ๐
- Wang: Chinese, meaning king ๐
- Melchior: traditionally, king of light ๐
- Solomon: Hebrew, a peaceful king ๐
- Frederick: Germanic, peaceful ruler ๐
- Henry: Germanic, ruler of the home ๐
- Richard: Germanic, strong ruler ๐
- Alaric: Gothic, ruler of all ๐
- Kendrick: Old English, royal ruler ๐ป
- Emir: Arabic, commander or prince ๐
- Kingston: English, king’s settlement ๐
- Regan: Gaelic, little king ๐
- Amir: Arabic, prince or ruler ๐๏ธ
- Casimir: Slavic, proclaims peace, royal line ๐๏ธ
- Sultan: Arabic, ruler or king ๐ต
- Tsar: Slavic title, derived from Caesar ๐บ
- Khan: Turkic and Mongolic, ruler or lord ๐ฒ
- Rex: Latin word for king ๐ด
- Raja: Sanskrit for king or ruler ๐น
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular name that means king?
Among globally recognizable choices, Kingston, Kendrick, and Rex are some of the most widely used names tied to the idea of a king, alongside Frederick and Henry, which carry a related meaning of rule.
Is Malik a name that means king?
Yes, Malik is an Arabic name that translates directly to king, and it is one of the most straightforward choices for parents who want a literal royal meaning.
What girl names mean queen or king?
Regina, Sarai, Rani, and Sultana are commonly used feminine names tied to royal rule, while a handful of names on this list, like Kinga and Reina, work as royal-themed picks for a daughter.
Are there short names that mean king?
Rex, Kian, and Wang are among the shortest options, each just one syllable long, while still carrying a direct royal meaning.
What is a Japanese name that means king or ruler?
Osamu and Tsukasa are Japanese names commonly associated with governing or ruling, though their exact nuance depends on the kanji chosen for the name.
Do all names on this list literally translate to king?
No. Some, like Rex, Malik, and Wang, translate directly. Others, like Frederick, Henry, and Kendrick, carry a related meaning such as ruler or royal ruler rather than the literal word king.
What are some African names that mean king?
Oba is a Yoruba title for king, Negus is an Ethiopian royal title, and Kgosi is a Southern African word for king or chief, all of which are used as given names.
Can a surname mean king?
Yes, surnames like Konig, meaning king in German, and Leroy, meaning the king in French, are examples of last names built directly from the word for king.
Is Kingston a traditional name or a modern invention?
Kingston began as an English place name meaning the king’s settlement or town, and it has since become popular as a given name in its own right.
Final Thoughts
A name that means king is really a way of naming an intention: strength, leadership, dignity, and a sense of standing tall in the world. Some of the names above are literal translations of the word king across a dozen languages, while others carry that meaning more loosely through roots tied to ruling, governing, or royal standing.
There is no single right way to interpret royal meaning, so it is worth choosing the version that feels most personal, whether that is a name from your own heritage or one borrowed from a tradition you simply admire.
Whatever you land on, from a classic like Richard to a modern build like Kingsley, the goal is a name that will carry that sense of quiet confidence for a lifetime, not just in the nursery but every time it is read on a resume, a diploma, or a wedding invitation decades from now.

Hooriya Salman is the writer and researcher behind Mean Research, with 4 years of experience researching and writing about word meanings, slang, names, and everyday language. Their aim is to provide clear, accurate, and easy-to-understand explanations that help readers discover the meaning behind unfamiliar words, expressions and names.

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