Unisex · #12,120 in 2026

Knightley

Current Rank
#12,120
Peak Rank
#8,021 (2021)
Total Babies
102
5-Yr Trend
-22%
👧 Girl peak #8,021 (102 total)
👦 Boy peak #9,864 (33 total)
👧As Girl Name
2009
First Year
2024
Last Year
2021
Peak Year
#8021
Peak Rank
102
Total Count
12
Years Active
👦As Boy Name
2012
First Year
2024
Last Year
2024
Peak Year
#9864
Peak Rank
33
Total Count
6
Years Active

The Story of Knightley

As a girl name

The earliest SSA record of Knightley as a girl name dates back to 2009, when 6 babies received it. 2021 was its biggest year on record, with 13 newborns named Knightley — #8,021 in the national rankings. About 48% of every Knightley on record arrived during the 2010s, its defining decade. Knightley last appeared in the published SSA data in 2024, with 7 recorded births — it has not charted nationally since. All told, over 102 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 2000s to the 2020s.

As a boy name

American parents first put Knightley on the record books as a boy name in 2012, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2024, when 7 Knightleys were born — ranking #9,864 that year. About 55% of every Knightley on record arrived during the 2020s, its defining decade. Knightley last appeared in the published SSA data in 2024, with 7 recorded births — it has not charted nationally since. All told, over 33 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 2010s to the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Knightley

Phonetically similar names — useful when Knightley is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Nightly
  • Knightly
  • Neatly
  • Nutley
  • Naughtly
  • Notley
  • Netley
  • Nighty
  • Nightie
  • Needly
  • Nighly
  • Nudely

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Knightley

What does the name Knightley mean?
Knightley is a girl's name that has been used in U.S. records since 2009. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.
How popular is Knightley in 2026?
In 2026, Knightley ranks #12,120 among girls' names in the U.S., with 7 babies given the name that year.
When was Knightley most popular?
Knightley reached its peak popularity in 2021, ranking #8,021 that year with 13 babies given the name.
Is Knightley a unisex name?
Yes — Knightley is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 76% of Knightleys assigned female and 24% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Knightley?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Knightley include Relena, Scarlotte, Iriel. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Knightley

Knightley is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2009 and has accumulated 102 births in the dataset. Knightley's peak popularity came in 2021 when it ranked #8,021. Use the chart and map above to compare Knightley's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.