Knute
Knut, Knud (Danish), or Knútur (Icelandic) is a Scandinavian and German first name, of which the anglicised form is Canute. In Germany both "Knut" and "Knud" are used. In Spanish and Portuguese Canuto is used which comes from the Latin version Canutus, and in Finland, the name Nuutti is based on the name Knut. The name is derived from the Old Norse Knútr meaning "knot".
- English
Meaning & Origin of Knute
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Knut, Knud (Danish), or Knútur (Icelandic) is a Scandinavian and German first name, of which the anglicised form is Canute. In Germany both "Knut" and "Knud" are used. In Spanish and Portuguese Canuto is used which comes from the Latin version Canutus, and in Finland, the name Nuutti is based on the name Knut. The name is derived from the Old Norse Knútr meaning "knot".
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Knute
The earliest SSA record of Knute as a baby boy name dates back to 1880, when 5 babies received it. 1931 was its biggest year on record, with 19 newborns named Knute — #1,643 in the national rankings. Knute last appeared in the published SSA data in 2018, with 5 recorded births — it has not charted nationally since. All told, over 681 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1880s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Knute
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Harthaknut I of Denmark (Knut I, Danish: Hardeknud) (b. c. 890), king of Denmark
- Knut the Great (Knut II, Danish: Knud den Store or Knud II) (d. 1035), Viking king of England, Denmark and Norway Subject of the apocryphal King Canute and the waves
- Harthaknut (Knut III, Danish: Hardeknud or Knud III) (d. 1042), king of Denmark and England
- Saint Knud IV of Denmark (Danish: Knud IV), king of Denmark (r. 1080–1086) and martyr
- Knud Lavard (d. 1131), Danish prince and saint
- Knud V of Denmark (Danish: Knud V), king of Denmark (r. 1146–1157)
- Knut Eriksson , king of Sweden (r. 1173–1195)
- Knut Långe , king of Sweden (r. 1229–1234)
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Knute
Phonetically similar names — useful when Knute is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Knut
- Knutt
- Cute
- Coot
- Qute
- Coote
- Kute
- Canute
- Koot
- Knuth
- Cuet
- Caouette
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Knute
What does the name Knute mean?
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About the name Knute
Knute is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 681 births in the dataset. Knute's peak popularity came in 1931 when it ranked #1,643. Use the chart and map above to compare Knute's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1931 →
- Names of the 1930s →
- Names starting with "K" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
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.