Knox
Knox is a boys' name of Scottish origin meaning “round hill; rounded hillock.” It ranked #196 in the United States in 2025. From the Scottish Gaelic cnoc (hill).
how do you pronounce Knox?
NOKS
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Knox mean?
The name Knox means “round hill; rounded hillock.” It comes from the Scottish language tradition.
From the Scottish Gaelic cnoc (hill). John Knox, the 16th-century Scottish reformer, is the most famous historical bearer. The name gained mainstream celebrity attention when Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt named their son Knox in 2008.
where does the name Knox come from?
Wikipedia confirms Knox as a transferred use of a Scottish surname and place name, derived from the Scots Gaelic cnoc or Old English cnocc, both referring to a small hill with a round top, matching the 'round hill' gloss given elsewhere.
the history of Knox
The source describes Knox as primarily a masculine given name but gives no further history; nothing here confirms the John Knox or celebrity-naming associations sometimes cited.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #196 |
| 2024 | #209 |
| 2023 | #208 |
| 2022 | #199 |
| 2021 | #220 |
| 2020 | #238 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
who are famous people named Knox?
- John Knox (reformer)
- Knox Jolie-Pitt (celebrity child)
- Fort Knox (U.S. gold depository)
what names are similar to Knox?
what names go well with Knox?
Sibling names that share Knox's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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