Given name & surname · also Old Norse
Knut
“a knot”·“knot”
Knut is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “a knot” and “knot” (Norwegian). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Original Old NorseKnútr
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “a knot” and “knot” (Norwegian). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Old Norse.
The story
The name has historical associations with Scandinavian royalty.
Knut through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 65
- 65 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1968
- 9 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 7 in 2013. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for boys was 9 in 1968. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 345 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Knut’s family of names
In Swedish usage, Knut has a diminutive in Knutte. In Swedish usage, Knut shares a linguistic root with the English form Canute. In German usage, Knut has a conventional equivalent in the Norwegian form Knute.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Knut has relatives in 14 languages. Lines run from its Old Norse roots to each of them.
Old Norsewhere Knut comes from · 1 name
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 21
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Knut
- Knut HamsunNorwegian novelist (1859–1952)
- Knut WicksellSwedish economist (1851–1926)
- Knut ErikssonKing of Sweden from 1167 until 11961150–1196
- Canute LavardDuke of Schleswig and Danish prince1096–1131
- Knut LångeKing of Sweden1200–1234
- Harthacnut I of Denmarksemi-legendary king of Denmark857–934
- Knut KroonSwedish footballer (1906-1975)
- Knut NordahlSwedish footballer (1920-1984)
- Knut HolmannNorwegian canoe racerborn 1968
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Knut, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Håkon
Håkon is a masculine given name from Old Norse. It is used in Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk.
>99% boys
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Eric
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Raghnall
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Frode
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99% boys · 1% girls
Lutz
Lutz is used as a given name and a surname. Lutz is connected with Ludwig.
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Roald
“praise, fame” · “ruler, chieftain”
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Reggy
“the king's advisor”
>99% boys