Given name
Knute
“a knot”·“knot”
Knute is a variant of Knut. Interpretations include “a knot” and “knot” (Norwegian). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Knute is a variant of Knut. Interpretations include “a knot” and “knot” (Norwegian). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Knute is a variant of Knut. An origin associated with Knut is Old Norse.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Knute is a variant of Knut. The history of Knut gives this family its wider story. Knut has historical associations with Scandinavian royalty.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Knute through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 691
- 691 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1931
- 19 babies
- 2025
- 10
- #7,980 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 10 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 7,980 among boys’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. Its largest published annual count for boys was 19 in 1931. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 454 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.
Knute’s family of names
Knute has a related form in Knut. In Norwegian usage, Knute has a conventional equivalent in the German form Knut.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Around the world
Knute has relatives in 3 languages.
1 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Knute
- Knute RockneAmerican football player and coach (1888–1931)
- Knute NelsonAmerican lawyer and politician (1843–1923)
- Knute JohnsgaardCanadian cross-country skierborn 1992
- Knute HillAmerican politician (1876-1963)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Knute, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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