Knut or Kanute is a Scandinavian first name, of which the anglicized form is Canute. It is derived from the Old Norse Knútr meaning "knot"; other forms include Cnut and Knud. It is the name of several medieval kings of Denmark, two of whom reigned also over England during the first half of the 11th century. Notably:

• Canute the Great (995-1035), king of England, Denmark, and Norway, celebrated for "trying to hold back the tide," commanding the waves of the sea to retreat as a reprimand of his courtiers;
• Harthacanute (1018-1042), king of Denmark and England
• Saint Canute IV (1043-1086), king of Denmark and martyr
• Canute V of Denmark (?-1157)
• Canute VI of Denmark (1163-1202)
• Knud, Hereditary Prince of Denmark (1900-1976), younger son of King Christian X

It is also the name of two medieval kings of Sweden:

• Canute I of Sweden (c. 1150-1195)
• Canute II of Sweden (?-1234)

Other people named Knut (or forms thereof):

• Canute Lavard, Danish prince and saint
• Knut Hamsun was a leading Norwegian author.
• Knud Rasmussen was a Greenlandic polar explorer and anthropologist.
• Knut Reinhardt was a German footballer.
• Knute Rockne was an American football player and coach.
• Knut Schmidt-Nielsen was a Norwegian-born American biologist.
• See also the surname Knudsen

Animals:

• Knut is the name of polar bear at the Berlin Zoo that attracted worldwide attention in 2007.

Other :

• Knut is a swiss post-hardcore band.