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Boy name · Old Norse

Knut

Name meaning, origin and popularity

: a knot

Knut is a boy's name that comes from Old Norse and means "a knot". It is used in Scandinavian.

Meaning
A knot
Origin
Old Norse
Gender
Boy
Letters
4

Meaning and origin of Knut

As a boy's name, Knut comes from Old Norse and means "a knot". It is used in Scandinavian.

Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names

Knut on Nomezo lists

What our editors wrote about Knut on 3 lists.

  • “A knot; Old Norse. Cnut the Great ruled England, Denmark and Norway”

    From Medieval names and surnames, medieval Norse and Scandinavian names

  • “A knot; Old Norse, the Danish king who ruled England”

    From Strong boy names, strong Norse boy names

  • “Knot; the Great ruled England, Denmark and Norway”

    From Viking names, names of famous Vikings

How popular is Knut?

Recent US rank
Fewer than 5 babies in 2025
Best rank
#3,001 in 1968
9 babies that year
Babies since 1916
At least 65
Years with under 5 are not listed
1880s1900s1920s1940s1960s1980s2000s2020s
Babies per million US boys, by decade (the 2020s so far, to 2025). Highest in the 1910s, at 1 per million.
Babies named Knut per million US boys, by decade; highest in the 1910s
1880s0 per million
1890s0 per million
1900s0 per million
1910s1 per million
1920s0 per million
1930s0 per million
1940s0 per million
1950s1 per million
1960s1 per million
1970s0 per million
1980s0 per million
1990s0 per million
2000s0 per million
2010s0 per million
2020s0 per million

Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.

Names spelled like Knut

One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.

  • KnoxRound hill (Old English, boy)
  • KauʻiThe youthful one (Hawaiian, unisex)
  • KitBearing Christ (Greek, boy)
  • KurtBold counsel (Germanic, boy)

Middle names for Knut

Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.

  • AndrewManly, brave (Greek, boy)
  • CarltonSettlement of free peasants (Old English, boy)
  • CarterCart driver (English, boy)
  • ConradBold counsel (Germanic, boy)
  • JosiahYahweh supports (Hebrew, boy)
  • LaurenceFrom Laurentum, a Roman town (Latin, boy)
  • PeregrineTraveler, pilgrim (Latin, boy)
  • TrumanTrusty man (English, boy)

More boy names from Old Norse

  • ErikEternal ruler (Old Norse, boy)
  • SvenBoy, young man (Old Norse, boy)
  • BjörnA bear (Old Norse, boy)
  • HaraldArmy ruler (Old Norse, boy)
  • HolgerIsland spear (Old Norse, boy)
  • IngolfIng's wolf (Old Norse, boy)
  • IvorYew warrior (Old Norse, boy)
  • OdinFrenzy, inspiration (Old Norse, boy)
  • RaghnallCounsel ruler (Old Norse, boy)
  • RonaldCounsel ruler (Old Norse, boy)

Knut: common questions

What does the name Knut mean?

Knut comes from Old Norse and means "a knot".

Is Knut a boy or girl name?

Knut is mainly a boy's name.

Where does the name Knut come from?

Knut comes from Old Norse and means "a knot". Today it is used in Scandinavian.

What names are similar to Knut?

Names spelled like Knut include Knox, Kauʻi, Kit and Kurt.

What middle names go with Knut?

Middle names that flow well with Knut include Andrew, Carlton, Carter, Conrad and Josiah. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.