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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Are there any K names that are not tacky?

434 replies

JCes · 12/06/2026 13:00

Are there any feminine K names that are more traditional and old-fashioned? I really dislike modern and trendy sounding names. I also dislike C names that have recently been turned into K names. The Kylie, Kaylee, Kadence, Kallie, Kinley, Kaitlyn, Krystal, Karly, Khloe, Kenzie type of names are not for me. They're all very similar in style to me, and I just find them to be tacky. They also feel very mean girl/bully. (This won't make sense to everyone, but I'm sure some will know what I mean.)

An example of a name that I do like is Katherine, but there are simply too many in the family. I also like just plain Kay, but it seems a bit underwhelming as a first name. It's more often a middle name and shortening of other K names. Karen is no longer a possibility for obvious reasons...

OP posts:
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Pennydoenstwhistle · 14/06/2026 00:09

Klara

Kerry242 · 14/06/2026 00:19

Karina - instead of Katrina.

SySy7 · 14/06/2026 00:38

Kiah

Stelladid · 14/06/2026 00:53

Kathleen, Katherine

AverageWhiteShark · 14/06/2026 01:11

NamingNoNames · 12/06/2026 16:17

See my post Today 15:00.

I must have just missed it! What a splendid recording of the song, thank you! We sang that song (English translation) at school when I was quite small. I have loved that name ever since.
Short story time: 7years ago a friend in Siberia was sending me a puppy and she said "I need a K name for your girl". So I thought at last, what a brilliant opportunity! She was thrilled that I chose Kalinka as she loves the song too. My Kalinka arrived safely, brought straight to me door, escorted all the way for safety and welfare*, 5 months old. She is a complete joy and the happiest dog I have ever had.

  • *I do not recommend this unless you know exactly who you are dealing with every step of the way and know the character of the dog and his/her pedigree back to front and inside out.
ThatWittyWallaby · 14/06/2026 02:19

Kayla could be the one...

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 14/06/2026 02:28

I feel this obsession with Karen is really silly. Did it start in the United States?

Karen only caught on in mid fifties in the UK..See how many Karen's you can trace before that..It is a shortened version of Katherine and used widely by Americans of Scandinavian descent.

If you want a different version
version you could use Karin re the German spelling.

EvieBB · 14/06/2026 04:51

CelticSilver · 12/06/2026 13:05

Kara

I love the name Kara. Unfortunately the though in Poland (I am of Polish extraction) "Kara" literally translates as "curse"! 🤪
What a shame! 🙈🤦🏻‍♀️

TheCheekyCyanHelper · 14/06/2026 05:41

CelticSilver · 12/06/2026 13:05

Kara

It's supposed to be spelled Cara.

Witknit · 14/06/2026 06:17

Katrina

I chose it as a 3rd choice name but now I love it. She likes to be known as Kat as an adult, though Katie would be an alternative if it was shortened.
She is mine so Im biased but of all my kids, she is the one thats kind, fair, competent, really funny and good company

TerfOnATrain · 14/06/2026 06:21

KittytheHare · 12/06/2026 13:11

Kitty is a beautiful name

Love this, I know a Katya shortened to Kitty.

Also like Kristy, although I prefer it spelt Christy.

user1492757084 · 14/06/2026 06:23

Kathleen
Kitty
Kaye
Katharine
Kate
Katerina
Kylie
Keira
Kirsten
Kirsty
Kristy
Kirby
Kelly
Karen
Kiri. NZ
Karenza

WittyTaupeLion · 14/06/2026 07:32

It’s sad that names are being called tacky as peoples kids will have those names. Don’t think you can beat Kerensa for unusual name: it’s gentle. Or put a name with a hyphenated name to make it unusual. Keren- Louise for example

ElSomum · 14/06/2026 07:42

Keira and I really like Kathleen. Kirsty? Kayleigh?

Littledidsheknow · 14/06/2026 09:18

Piglet89 · 13/06/2026 22:42

Khachaturian.

Kasparov.

That’s it.

and Kafka!

Has anyone said Kate, Kathleen or Karenza yet?

MrsScarecrow · 14/06/2026 10:15

Karine

Mykneesareshot · 14/06/2026 10:44

Kyrie (Mr Mister song from the 80's)

Littledidsheknow · 14/06/2026 11:08

Mykneesareshot · 14/06/2026 10:44

Kyrie (Mr Mister song from the 80's)

But that’s short for “Kyrie Eleison” (Greek for “Lord have mercy”) which is part of Catholic or Orthodox prayer; it’s not someone’s name and they’re not singing about a woman.

NamingNoNames · 14/06/2026 11:16

@Mykneesareshot ,Kyrie (song) - Wikipedia. It's like calling a girl 'Lord' (as in God)

Heartbeat21 · 14/06/2026 12:06

Katie

ImaSpringChicken · 14/06/2026 13:33

Karenza is quite posh i think or at least the ones i know are.
Kitty
Kirsten
Katie
Kassandra (originally with k instead of C)

Snakebite61 · 14/06/2026 15:28

JCes · 12/06/2026 13:00

Are there any feminine K names that are more traditional and old-fashioned? I really dislike modern and trendy sounding names. I also dislike C names that have recently been turned into K names. The Kylie, Kaylee, Kadence, Kallie, Kinley, Kaitlyn, Krystal, Karly, Khloe, Kenzie type of names are not for me. They're all very similar in style to me, and I just find them to be tacky. They also feel very mean girl/bully. (This won't make sense to everyone, but I'm sure some will know what I mean.)

An example of a name that I do like is Katherine, but there are simply too many in the family. I also like just plain Kay, but it seems a bit underwhelming as a first name. It's more often a middle name and shortening of other K names. Karen is no longer a possibility for obvious reasons...

Katherine, Kay (very rare these days) Katrina ( proper spelling Catriona but ok) Katy is nice.

hcee19 · 14/06/2026 17:24

JCes · 12/06/2026 13:00

Are there any feminine K names that are more traditional and old-fashioned? I really dislike modern and trendy sounding names. I also dislike C names that have recently been turned into K names. The Kylie, Kaylee, Kadence, Kallie, Kinley, Kaitlyn, Krystal, Karly, Khloe, Kenzie type of names are not for me. They're all very similar in style to me, and I just find them to be tacky. They also feel very mean girl/bully. (This won't make sense to everyone, but I'm sure some will know what I mean.)

An example of a name that I do like is Katherine, but there are simply too many in the family. I also like just plain Kay, but it seems a bit underwhelming as a first name. It's more often a middle name and shortening of other K names. Karen is no longer a possibility for obvious reasons...

Kenadee kapri kallen kora kaloni...K is a bit difficult without being a bit chavy

PMA1981 · 14/06/2026 17:27

Katerina.

FakeItUntilIMakeIt · 14/06/2026 17:38

Karenza