diff --git a/api/correlation/correlation_context_propagator.go b/api/correlation/correlation_context_propagator.go
index 8cee24208bc..20e1cd6af78 100644
--- a/api/correlation/correlation_context_propagator.go
+++ b/api/correlation/correlation_context_propagator.go
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ func (CorrelationContext) Extract(ctx context.Context, supplier propagation.HTTP
 			trimmedValueWithProps.WriteString(prop)
 		}
 
-		keyValues = append(keyValues, kv.NewKey(trimmedName).String(trimmedValueWithProps.String()))
+		keyValues = append(keyValues, kv.Key(trimmedName).String(trimmedValueWithProps.String()))
 	}
 	return ContextWithMap(ctx, NewMap(MapUpdate{
 		MultiKV: keyValues,
diff --git a/api/correlation/correlation_context_propagator_test.go b/api/correlation/correlation_context_propagator_test.go
index d422653c51e..3fe832fa661 100644
--- a/api/correlation/correlation_context_propagator_test.go
+++ b/api/correlation/correlation_context_propagator_test.go
@@ -40,48 +40,48 @@ func TestExtractValidDistributedContextFromHTTPReq(t *testing.T) {
 			name:   "valid w3cHeader",
 			header: "key1=val1,key2=val2",
 			wantKVs: []kv.KeyValue{
-				kv.NewKey("key1").String("val1"),
-				kv.NewKey("key2").String("val2"),
+				kv.Key("key1").String("val1"),
+				kv.Key("key2").String("val2"),
 			},
 		},
 		{
 			name:   "valid w3cHeader with spaces",
 			header: "key1 =   val1,  key2 =val2   ",
 			wantKVs: []kv.KeyValue{
-				kv.NewKey("key1").String("val1"),
-				kv.NewKey("key2").String("val2"),
+				kv.Key("key1").String("val1"),
+				kv.Key("key2").String("val2"),
 			},
 		},
 		{
 			name:   "valid w3cHeader with properties",
 			header: "key1=val1,key2=val2;prop=1",
 			wantKVs: []kv.KeyValue{
-				kv.NewKey("key1").String("val1"),
-				kv.NewKey("key2").String("val2;prop=1"),
+				kv.Key("key1").String("val1"),
+				kv.Key("key2").String("val2;prop=1"),
 			},
 		},
 		{
 			name:   "valid header with url-escaped comma",
 			header: "key1=val1,key2=val2%2Cval3",
 			wantKVs: []kv.KeyValue{
-				kv.NewKey("key1").String("val1"),
-				kv.NewKey("key2").String("val2,val3"),
+				kv.Key("key1").String("val1"),
+				kv.Key("key2").String("val2,val3"),
 			},
 		},
 		{
 			name:   "valid header with an invalid header",
 			header: "key1=val1,key2=val2,a,val3",
 			wantKVs: []kv.KeyValue{
-				kv.NewKey("key1").String("val1"),
-				kv.NewKey("key2").String("val2"),
+				kv.Key("key1").String("val1"),
+				kv.Key("key2").String("val2"),
 			},
 		},
 		{
 			name:   "valid header with no value",
 			header: "key1=,key2=val2",
 			wantKVs: []kv.KeyValue{
-				kv.NewKey("key1").String(""),
-				kv.NewKey("key2").String("val2"),
+				kv.Key("key1").String(""),
+				kv.Key("key2").String("val2"),
 			},
 		},
 	}
@@ -157,31 +157,31 @@ func TestInjectCorrelationContextToHTTPReq(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			name: "two simple values",
 			kvs: []kv.KeyValue{
-				kv.NewKey("key1").String("val1"),
-				kv.NewKey("key2").String("val2"),
+				kv.Key("key1").String("val1"),
+				kv.Key("key2").String("val2"),
 			},
 			wantInHeader: []string{"key1=val1", "key2=val2"},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "two values with escaped chars",
 			kvs: []kv.KeyValue{
-				kv.NewKey("key1").String("val1,val2"),
-				kv.NewKey("key2").String("val3=4"),
+				kv.Key("key1").String("val1,val2"),
+				kv.Key("key2").String("val3=4"),
 			},
 			wantInHeader: []string{"key1=val1%2Cval2", "key2=val3%3D4"},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "values of non-string types",
 			kvs: []kv.KeyValue{
-				kv.NewKey("key1").Bool(true),
-				kv.NewKey("key2").Int(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key3").Int64(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key4").Int32(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key5").Uint(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key6").Uint32(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key7").Uint64(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key8").Float64(123.567),
-				kv.NewKey("key9").Float32(123.567),
+				kv.Key("key1").Bool(true),
+				kv.Key("key2").Int(123),
+				kv.Key("key3").Int64(123),
+				kv.Key("key4").Int32(123),
+				kv.Key("key5").Uint(123),
+				kv.Key("key6").Uint32(123),
+				kv.Key("key7").Uint64(123),
+				kv.Key("key8").Float64(123.567),
+				kv.Key("key9").Float32(123.567),
 			},
 			wantInHeader: []string{
 				"key1=true",
diff --git a/api/correlation/map_test.go b/api/correlation/map_test.go
index cc8e24e11aa..c886b842dbd 100644
--- a/api/correlation/map_test.go
+++ b/api/correlation/map_test.go
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ func TestSizeComputation(t *testing.T) {
 func getTestCases() []testCase {
 	return []testCase{
 		{
-			name: "NewKey map with MultiKV",
+			name: "map with MultiKV",
 			value: MapUpdate{MultiKV: []kv.KeyValue{
 				kv.Int64("key1", 1),
 				kv.String("key2", "val2")},
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ func getTestCases() []testCase {
 			},
 		},
 		{
-			name:  "NewKey map with SingleKV",
+			name:  "map with SingleKV",
 			value: MapUpdate{SingleKV: kv.String("key1", "val1")},
 			init:  []int{},
 			wantKVs: []kv.KeyValue{
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ func getTestCases() []testCase {
 			},
 		},
 		{
-			name: "NewKey map with both add fields",
+			name: "map with both add fields",
 			value: MapUpdate{SingleKV: kv.Int64("key1", 3),
 				MultiKV: []kv.KeyValue{
 					kv.String("key1", ""),
@@ -119,19 +119,19 @@ func getTestCases() []testCase {
 			},
 		},
 		{
-			name:    "NewKey map with empty MapUpdate",
+			name:    "map with empty MapUpdate",
 			value:   MapUpdate{},
 			init:    []int{},
 			wantKVs: []kv.KeyValue{},
 		},
 		{
-			name:    "NewKey map with DropSingleK",
+			name:    "map with DropSingleK",
 			value:   MapUpdate{DropSingleK: kv.Key("key1")},
 			init:    []int{},
 			wantKVs: []kv.KeyValue{},
 		},
 		{
-			name: "NewKey map with DropMultiK",
+			name: "map with DropMultiK",
 			value: MapUpdate{DropMultiK: []kv.Key{
 				kv.Key("key1"), kv.Key("key2"),
 			}},
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ func getTestCases() []testCase {
 			wantKVs: []kv.KeyValue{},
 		},
 		{
-			name: "NewKey map with both drop fields",
+			name: "map with both drop fields",
 			value: MapUpdate{
 				DropSingleK: kv.Key("key1"),
 				DropMultiK: []kv.Key{
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ func getTestCases() []testCase {
 			wantKVs: []kv.KeyValue{},
 		},
 		{
-			name: "NewKey map with all fields",
+			name: "map with all fields",
 			value: MapUpdate{
 				DropSingleK: kv.Key("key1"),
 				DropMultiK: []kv.Key{
diff --git a/api/kv/doc.go b/api/kv/doc.go
index 5261ec99f3f..3e635cdc3bd 100644
--- a/api/kv/doc.go
+++ b/api/kv/doc.go
@@ -12,9 +12,5 @@
 // See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 // limitations under the License.
 
-// This package provides basic types used in OpenTelemetry - keys,
-// values, numbers and span contexts.
-//
-// See the api/key package for convenience functions for creating keys
-// and key-value pairs.
+// package kv provides basic key and value types.
 package kv // import "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/api/kv"
diff --git a/api/kv/key.go b/api/kv/key.go
index 202851879ea..b1e04c447da 100644
--- a/api/kv/key.go
+++ b/api/kv/key.go
@@ -22,11 +22,6 @@ import (
 // allowed character set in the key depends on the use of the key.
 type Key string
 
-// NewKey creates a new key with a passed name.
-func NewKey(name string) Key {
-	return Key(name)
-}
-
 // Bool creates a KeyValue instance with a BOOL Value.
 //
 // If creating both key and a bool value at the same time, then
diff --git a/api/kv/kv.go b/api/kv/kv.go
index f159b553f19..e10b9134965 100644
--- a/api/kv/kv.go
+++ b/api/kv/kv.go
@@ -30,69 +30,69 @@ type KeyValue struct {
 // Bool creates a new key-value pair with a passed name and a bool
 // value.
 func Bool(k string, v bool) KeyValue {
-	return NewKey(k).Bool(v)
+	return Key(k).Bool(v)
 }
 
 // Int64 creates a new key-value pair with a passed name and an int64
 // value.
 func Int64(k string, v int64) KeyValue {
-	return NewKey(k).Int64(v)
+	return Key(k).Int64(v)
 }
 
 // Uint64 creates a new key-value pair with a passed name and a uint64
 // value.
 func Uint64(k string, v uint64) KeyValue {
-	return NewKey(k).Uint64(v)
+	return Key(k).Uint64(v)
 }
 
 // Float64 creates a new key-value pair with a passed name and a float64
 // value.
 func Float64(k string, v float64) KeyValue {
-	return NewKey(k).Float64(v)
+	return Key(k).Float64(v)
 }
 
 // Int32 creates a new key-value pair with a passed name and an int32
 // value.
 func Int32(k string, v int32) KeyValue {
-	return NewKey(k).Int32(v)
+	return Key(k).Int32(v)
 }
 
 // Uint32 creates a new key-value pair with a passed name and a uint32
 // value.
 func Uint32(k string, v uint32) KeyValue {
-	return NewKey(k).Uint32(v)
+	return Key(k).Uint32(v)
 }
 
 // Float32 creates a new key-value pair with a passed name and a float32
 // value.
 func Float32(k string, v float32) KeyValue {
-	return NewKey(k).Float32(v)
+	return Key(k).Float32(v)
 }
 
 // String creates a new key-value pair with a passed name and a string
 // value.
 func String(k, v string) KeyValue {
-	return NewKey(k).String(v)
+	return Key(k).String(v)
 }
 
 // Stringer creates a new key-value pair with a passed name and a string
 // value generated by the passed Stringer interface.
 func Stringer(k string, v fmt.Stringer) KeyValue {
-	return NewKey(k).String(v.String())
+	return Key(k).String(v.String())
 }
 
 // Int creates a new key-value pair instance with a passed name and
 // either an int32 or an int64 value, depending on whether the int
 // type is 32 or 64 bits wide.
 func Int(k string, v int) KeyValue {
-	return NewKey(k).Int(v)
+	return Key(k).Int(v)
 }
 
 // Uint creates a new key-value pair instance with a passed name and
 // either an uint32 or an uint64 value, depending on whether the uint
 // type is 32 or 64 bits wide.
 func Uint(k string, v uint) KeyValue {
-	return NewKey(k).Uint(v)
+	return Key(k).Uint(v)
 }
 
 // Infer creates a new key-value pair instance with a passed name and
diff --git a/bridge/opentracing/bridge.go b/bridge/opentracing/bridge.go
index b4c6748bd3b..dd8ee6190db 100644
--- a/bridge/opentracing/bridge.go
+++ b/bridge/opentracing/bridge.go
@@ -66,12 +66,12 @@ func (c *bridgeSpanContext) ForeachBaggageItem(handler func(k, v string) bool) {
 
 func (c *bridgeSpanContext) setBaggageItem(restrictedKey, value string) {
 	crk := http.CanonicalHeaderKey(restrictedKey)
-	c.baggageItems = c.baggageItems.Apply(otelcorrelation.MapUpdate{SingleKV: otelcore.NewKey(crk).String(value)})
+	c.baggageItems = c.baggageItems.Apply(otelcorrelation.MapUpdate{SingleKV: otelcore.Key(crk).String(value)})
 }
 
 func (c *bridgeSpanContext) baggageItem(restrictedKey string) string {
 	crk := http.CanonicalHeaderKey(restrictedKey)
-	val, _ := c.baggageItems.Value(otelcore.NewKey(crk))
+	val, _ := c.baggageItems.Value(otelcore.Key(crk))
 	return val.Emit()
 }
 
diff --git a/bridge/opentracing/internal/mock.go b/bridge/opentracing/internal/mock.go
index 132b081563e..718a1f044eb 100644
--- a/bridge/opentracing/internal/mock.go
+++ b/bridge/opentracing/internal/mock.go
@@ -32,12 +32,12 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	ComponentKey     = otelcore.NewKey("component")
-	ServiceKey       = otelcore.NewKey("service")
-	StatusCodeKey    = otelcore.NewKey("status.code")
-	StatusMessageKey = otelcore.NewKey("status.message")
-	ErrorKey         = otelcore.NewKey("error")
-	NameKey          = otelcore.NewKey("name")
+	ComponentKey     = otelcore.Key("component")
+	ServiceKey       = otelcore.Key("service")
+	StatusCodeKey    = otelcore.Key("status.code")
+	StatusMessageKey = otelcore.Key("status.message")
+	ErrorKey         = otelcore.Key("error")
+	NameKey          = otelcore.Key("name")
 )
 
 type MockContextKeyValue struct {
diff --git a/example/basic/main.go b/example/basic/main.go
index 718899b7f9d..9a5b05983f1 100644
--- a/example/basic/main.go
+++ b/example/basic/main.go
@@ -30,10 +30,10 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	fooKey     = kv.NewKey("ex.com/foo")
-	barKey     = kv.NewKey("ex.com/bar")
-	lemonsKey  = kv.NewKey("ex.com/lemons")
-	anotherKey = kv.NewKey("ex.com/another")
+	fooKey     = kv.Key("ex.com/foo")
+	barKey     = kv.Key("ex.com/bar")
+	lemonsKey  = kv.Key("ex.com/lemons")
+	anotherKey = kv.Key("ex.com/another")
 )
 
 // initTracer creates and registers trace provider instance.
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ func main() {
 
 	err := tracer.WithSpan(ctx, "operation", func(ctx context.Context) error {
 
-		trace.SpanFromContext(ctx).AddEvent(ctx, "Nice operation!", kv.NewKey("bogons").Int(100))
+		trace.SpanFromContext(ctx).AddEvent(ctx, "Nice operation!", kv.Key("bogons").Int(100))
 
 		trace.SpanFromContext(ctx).SetAttributes(anotherKey.String("yes"))
 
diff --git a/example/namedtracer/foo/foo.go b/example/namedtracer/foo/foo.go
index 40e64b28067..160aa274030 100644
--- a/example/namedtracer/foo/foo.go
+++ b/example/namedtracer/foo/foo.go
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	lemonsKey = kv.NewKey("ex.com/lemons")
+	lemonsKey = kv.Key("ex.com/lemons")
 )
 
 // SubOperation is an example to demonstrate the use of named tracer.
diff --git a/example/namedtracer/main.go b/example/namedtracer/main.go
index c3786ae3199..f0aae45ad75 100644
--- a/example/namedtracer/main.go
+++ b/example/namedtracer/main.go
@@ -29,9 +29,9 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	fooKey     = kv.NewKey("ex.com/foo")
-	barKey     = kv.NewKey("ex.com/bar")
-	anotherKey = kv.NewKey("ex.com/another")
+	fooKey     = kv.Key("ex.com/foo")
+	barKey     = kv.Key("ex.com/bar")
+	anotherKey = kv.Key("ex.com/another")
 )
 
 var tp *sdktrace.Provider
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func main() {
 
 	err := tracer.WithSpan(ctx, "operation", func(ctx context.Context) error {
 
-		trace.SpanFromContext(ctx).AddEvent(ctx, "Nice operation!", kv.NewKey("bogons").Int(100))
+		trace.SpanFromContext(ctx).AddEvent(ctx, "Nice operation!", kv.Key("bogons").Int(100))
 
 		trace.SpanFromContext(ctx).SetAttributes(anotherKey.String("yes"))
 
diff --git a/example/prometheus/main.go b/example/prometheus/main.go
index 6e9ba622227..6c0282801e6 100644
--- a/example/prometheus/main.go
+++ b/example/prometheus/main.go
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	lemonsKey = kv.NewKey("ex.com/lemons")
+	lemonsKey = kv.Key("ex.com/lemons")
 )
 
 func initMeter() *push.Controller {
diff --git a/exporters/metric/prometheus/prometheus_test.go b/exporters/metric/prometheus/prometheus_test.go
index 3a0b8adde5b..362df65a6fb 100644
--- a/exporters/metric/prometheus/prometheus_test.go
+++ b/exporters/metric/prometheus/prometheus_test.go
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ func TestPrometheusExporter(t *testing.T) {
 		"histogram_measure", metric.MeasureKind, metric.Float64NumberKind)
 
 	labels := []kv.KeyValue{
-		kv.NewKey("A").String("B"),
-		kv.NewKey("C").String("D"),
+		kv.Key("A").String("B"),
+		kv.Key("C").String("D"),
 	}
 
 	checkpointSet.AddCounter(&counter, 15.3, labels...)
@@ -83,8 +83,8 @@ func TestPrometheusExporter(t *testing.T) {
 	expected = append(expected, `histogram_measure_sum{A="B",C="D"} 19.6`)
 
 	missingLabels := []kv.KeyValue{
-		kv.NewKey("A").String("E"),
-		kv.NewKey("C").String(""),
+		kv.Key("A").String("E"),
+		kv.Key("C").String(""),
 	}
 
 	checkpointSet.AddCounter(&counter, 12, missingLabels...)
diff --git a/exporters/metric/stdout/example_test.go b/exporters/metric/stdout/example_test.go
index f86d175e842..9cb3b45ad2f 100644
--- a/exporters/metric/stdout/example_test.go
+++ b/exporters/metric/stdout/example_test.go
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ func ExampleNewExportPipeline() {
 
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
-	key := kv.NewKey("key")
+	key := kv.Key("key")
 	meter := pusher.Meter("example")
 
 	// Create and update a single counter:
diff --git a/plugin/grpctrace/interceptor.go b/plugin/grpctrace/interceptor.go
index 9dbdcf136b4..a84aec9e12d 100644
--- a/plugin/grpctrace/interceptor.go
+++ b/plugin/grpctrace/interceptor.go
@@ -34,13 +34,13 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	rpcServiceKey  = kv.NewKey("rpc.service")
-	netPeerIPKey   = kv.NewKey("net.peer.ip")
-	netPeerPortKey = kv.NewKey("net.peer.port")
+	rpcServiceKey  = kv.Key("rpc.service")
+	netPeerIPKey   = kv.Key("net.peer.ip")
+	netPeerPortKey = kv.Key("net.peer.port")
 
-	messageTypeKey             = kv.NewKey("message.type")
-	messageIDKey               = kv.NewKey("message.id")
-	messageUncompressedSizeKey = kv.NewKey("message.uncompressed_size")
+	messageTypeKey             = kv.Key("message.type")
+	messageIDKey               = kv.Key("message.id")
+	messageUncompressedSizeKey = kv.Key("message.uncompressed_size")
 )
 
 const (
diff --git a/plugin/httptrace/clienttrace.go b/plugin/httptrace/clienttrace.go
index 2f48519583d..66df26260d1 100644
--- a/plugin/httptrace/clienttrace.go
+++ b/plugin/httptrace/clienttrace.go
@@ -30,10 +30,10 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	HTTPStatus     = kv.NewKey("http.status")
-	HTTPHeaderMIME = kv.NewKey("http.mime")
-	HTTPRemoteAddr = kv.NewKey("http.remote")
-	HTTPLocalAddr  = kv.NewKey("http.local")
+	HTTPStatus     = kv.Key("http.status")
+	HTTPHeaderMIME = kv.Key("http.mime")
+	HTTPRemoteAddr = kv.Key("http.remote")
+	HTTPLocalAddr  = kv.Key("http.local")
 )
 
 var (
diff --git a/plugin/httptrace/clienttrace_test.go b/plugin/httptrace/clienttrace_test.go
index adbe22bd390..072313be564 100644
--- a/plugin/httptrace/clienttrace_test.go
+++ b/plugin/httptrace/clienttrace_test.go
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ func TestHTTPRequestWithClientTrace(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 
 		if tl.name == "http.getconn" {
-			local := kv.NewKey("http.local")
+			local := kv.Key("http.local")
 			// http.local attribute is not deterministic, just make sure it exists for `getconn`.
 			if _, ok := actualAttrs[local]; ok {
 				delete(actualAttrs, local)
diff --git a/plugin/httptrace/httptrace.go b/plugin/httptrace/httptrace.go
index 2955a301049..87746574d5e 100644
--- a/plugin/httptrace/httptrace.go
+++ b/plugin/httptrace/httptrace.go
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	HostKey = kv.NewKey("http.host")
-	URLKey  = kv.NewKey("http.url")
+	HostKey = kv.Key("http.host")
+	URLKey  = kv.Key("http.url")
 )
 
 // Returns the Attributes, Context Entries, and SpanContext that were encoded by Inject.
diff --git a/sdk/metric/benchmark_test.go b/sdk/metric/benchmark_test.go
index aa0cb1c1fb5..9cbc1a5780e 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/benchmark_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/benchmark_test.go
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ func makeLabels(n int) []kv.KeyValue {
 				break
 			}
 		}
-		l[i] = kv.NewKey(k).String(fmt.Sprint("v", rand.Intn(1000000000)))
+		l[i] = kv.Key(k).String(fmt.Sprint("v", rand.Intn(1000000000)))
 	}
 	return l
 }
diff --git a/sdk/metric/example_test.go b/sdk/metric/example_test.go
index b960b83f135..4f39441b53e 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/example_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/example_test.go
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ func ExampleNew() {
 
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
-	key := kv.NewKey("key")
+	key := kv.Key("key")
 	meter := pusher.Meter("example")
 
 	counter := metric.Must(meter).NewInt64Counter("a.counter")
diff --git a/sdk/metric/integrator/test/test.go b/sdk/metric/integrator/test/test.go
index 8d6fe0cd262..383c77645de 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/integrator/test/test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/integrator/test/test.go
@@ -82,8 +82,8 @@ func NewOutput(labelEncoder label.Encoder) Output {
 }
 
 // NewAggregationSelector returns a policy that is consistent with the
-// test descriptors above.  I.e., it returns sum.NewKey() for counter
-// instruments and lastvalue.NewKey for lastValue instruments.
+// test descriptors above.  I.e., it returns sum.New() for counter
+// instruments and lastvalue.New() for lastValue instruments.
 func NewAggregationSelector() export.AggregationSelector {
 	return &testAggregationSelector{}
 }
diff --git a/sdk/metric/stress_test.go b/sdk/metric/stress_test.go
index bdda93fa4af..7e15e1594c7 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/stress_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/stress_test.go
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ func (f *testFixture) someLabels() []kv.KeyValue {
 					break
 				}
 			}
-			l[i] = kv.NewKey(k).String(fmt.Sprint("v", rand.Intn(1000000000)))
+			l[i] = kv.Key(k).String(fmt.Sprint("v", rand.Intn(1000000000)))
 		}
 		lc := canonicalizeLabels(l)
 		f.lock.Lock()
diff --git a/sdk/resource/resource.go b/sdk/resource/resource.go
index 4f107e03b09..8599f04bdfe 100644
--- a/sdk/resource/resource.go
+++ b/sdk/resource/resource.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ type Resource struct {
 
 var emptyResource Resource
 
-// NewKey creates a resource from a set of attributes.  If there are
+// Key creates a resource from a set of attributes.  If there are
 // duplicate keys present in the list of attributes, then the last
 // value found for the key is preserved.
 func New(kvs ...kv.KeyValue) *Resource {
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ func Merge(a, b *Resource) *Resource {
 		b = Empty()
 	}
 	// Note: 'b' is listed first so that 'a' will overwrite with
-	// last-value-wins in label.NewKey()
+	// last-value-wins in label.Key()
 	combine := append(b.Attributes(), a.Attributes()...)
 	return New(combine...)
 }
diff --git a/sdk/resource/resource_test.go b/sdk/resource/resource_test.go
index 1bb717b41a5..e9b560f1ae2 100644
--- a/sdk/resource/resource_test.go
+++ b/sdk/resource/resource_test.go
@@ -43,17 +43,17 @@ func TestNew(t *testing.T) {
 		want []kv.KeyValue
 	}{
 		{
-			name: "NewKey with common key order1",
+			name: "Key with common key order1",
 			in:   []kv.KeyValue{kv12, kv11, kv21},
 			want: []kv.KeyValue{kv11, kv21},
 		},
 		{
-			name: "NewKey with common key order2",
+			name: "Key with common key order2",
 			in:   []kv.KeyValue{kv11, kv12, kv21},
 			want: []kv.KeyValue{kv12, kv21},
 		},
 		{
-			name: "NewKey with nil",
+			name: "Key with nil",
 			in:   nil,
 			want: nil,
 		},
diff --git a/sdk/trace/benchmark_test.go b/sdk/trace/benchmark_test.go
index f9bbbfa4b4a..70dd374f982 100644
--- a/sdk/trace/benchmark_test.go
+++ b/sdk/trace/benchmark_test.go
@@ -43,10 +43,10 @@ func BenchmarkSpanWithAttributes_4(b *testing.B) {
 		for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
 			_, span := t.Start(ctx, "/foo")
 			span.SetAttributes(
-				kv.NewKey("key1").Bool(false),
-				kv.NewKey("key2").String("hello"),
-				kv.NewKey("key3").Uint64(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key4").Float64(123.456),
+				kv.Key("key1").Bool(false),
+				kv.Key("key2").String("hello"),
+				kv.Key("key3").Uint64(123),
+				kv.Key("key4").Float64(123.456),
 			)
 			span.End()
 		}
@@ -61,14 +61,14 @@ func BenchmarkSpanWithAttributes_8(b *testing.B) {
 		for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
 			_, span := t.Start(ctx, "/foo")
 			span.SetAttributes(
-				kv.NewKey("key1").Bool(false),
-				kv.NewKey("key2").String("hello"),
-				kv.NewKey("key3").Uint64(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key4").Float64(123.456),
-				kv.NewKey("key21").Bool(false),
-				kv.NewKey("key22").String("hello"),
-				kv.NewKey("key23").Uint64(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key24").Float64(123.456),
+				kv.Key("key1").Bool(false),
+				kv.Key("key2").String("hello"),
+				kv.Key("key3").Uint64(123),
+				kv.Key("key4").Float64(123.456),
+				kv.Key("key21").Bool(false),
+				kv.Key("key22").String("hello"),
+				kv.Key("key23").Uint64(123),
+				kv.Key("key24").Float64(123.456),
 			)
 			span.End()
 		}
@@ -83,16 +83,16 @@ func BenchmarkSpanWithAttributes_all(b *testing.B) {
 		for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
 			_, span := t.Start(ctx, "/foo")
 			span.SetAttributes(
-				kv.NewKey("key1").Bool(false),
-				kv.NewKey("key2").String("hello"),
-				kv.NewKey("key3").Int64(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key4").Uint64(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key5").Int32(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key6").Uint32(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key7").Float64(123.456),
-				kv.NewKey("key8").Float32(123.456),
-				kv.NewKey("key9").Int(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key10").Uint(123),
+				kv.Key("key1").Bool(false),
+				kv.Key("key2").String("hello"),
+				kv.Key("key3").Int64(123),
+				kv.Key("key4").Uint64(123),
+				kv.Key("key5").Int32(123),
+				kv.Key("key6").Uint32(123),
+				kv.Key("key7").Float64(123.456),
+				kv.Key("key8").Float32(123.456),
+				kv.Key("key9").Int(123),
+				kv.Key("key10").Uint(123),
 			)
 			span.End()
 		}
@@ -107,26 +107,26 @@ func BenchmarkSpanWithAttributes_all_2x(b *testing.B) {
 		for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
 			_, span := t.Start(ctx, "/foo")
 			span.SetAttributes(
-				kv.NewKey("key1").Bool(false),
-				kv.NewKey("key2").String("hello"),
-				kv.NewKey("key3").Int64(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key4").Uint64(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key5").Int32(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key6").Uint32(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key7").Float64(123.456),
-				kv.NewKey("key8").Float32(123.456),
-				kv.NewKey("key10").Int(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key11").Uint(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key21").Bool(false),
-				kv.NewKey("key22").String("hello"),
-				kv.NewKey("key23").Int64(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key24").Uint64(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key25").Int32(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key26").Uint32(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key27").Float64(123.456),
-				kv.NewKey("key28").Float32(123.456),
-				kv.NewKey("key210").Int(123),
-				kv.NewKey("key211").Uint(123),
+				kv.Key("key1").Bool(false),
+				kv.Key("key2").String("hello"),
+				kv.Key("key3").Int64(123),
+				kv.Key("key4").Uint64(123),
+				kv.Key("key5").Int32(123),
+				kv.Key("key6").Uint32(123),
+				kv.Key("key7").Float64(123.456),
+				kv.Key("key8").Float32(123.456),
+				kv.Key("key10").Int(123),
+				kv.Key("key11").Uint(123),
+				kv.Key("key21").Bool(false),
+				kv.Key("key22").String("hello"),
+				kv.Key("key23").Int64(123),
+				kv.Key("key24").Uint64(123),
+				kv.Key("key25").Int32(123),
+				kv.Key("key26").Uint32(123),
+				kv.Key("key27").Float64(123.456),
+				kv.Key("key28").Float32(123.456),
+				kv.Key("key210").Int(123),
+				kv.Key("key211").Uint(123),
 			)
 			span.End()
 		}
diff --git a/sdk/trace/trace_test.go b/sdk/trace/trace_test.go
index 19e7f20a650..a2dc2af547a 100644
--- a/sdk/trace/trace_test.go
+++ b/sdk/trace/trace_test.go
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ func TestSetSpanAttributes(t *testing.T) {
 	te := &testExporter{}
 	tp, _ := NewProvider(WithSyncer(te))
 	span := startSpan(tp, "SpanAttribute")
-	span.SetAttributes(kv.NewKey("key1").String("value1"))
+	span.SetAttributes(kv.Key("key1").String("value1"))
 	got, err := endSpan(te, span)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
@@ -372,11 +372,11 @@ func TestEvents(t *testing.T) {
 	tp, _ := NewProvider(WithSyncer(te))
 
 	span := startSpan(tp, "Events")
-	k1v1 := kv.NewKey("key1").String("value1")
+	k1v1 := kv.Key("key1").String("value1")
 	k2v2 := kv.Bool("key2", true)
 	k3v3 := kv.Int64("key3", 3)
 
-	span.AddEvent(context.Background(), "foo", kv.NewKey("key1").String("value1"))
+	span.AddEvent(context.Background(), "foo", kv.Key("key1").String("value1"))
 	span.AddEvent(context.Background(), "bar",
 		kv.Bool("key2", true),
 		kv.Int64("key3", 3),
@@ -417,19 +417,19 @@ func TestEventsOverLimit(t *testing.T) {
 	tp, _ := NewProvider(WithConfig(cfg), WithSyncer(te))
 
 	span := startSpan(tp, "EventsOverLimit")
-	k1v1 := kv.NewKey("key1").String("value1")
+	k1v1 := kv.Key("key1").String("value1")
 	k2v2 := kv.Bool("key2", false)
-	k3v3 := kv.NewKey("key3").String("value3")
+	k3v3 := kv.Key("key3").String("value3")
 
-	span.AddEvent(context.Background(), "fooDrop", kv.NewKey("key1").String("value1"))
+	span.AddEvent(context.Background(), "fooDrop", kv.Key("key1").String("value1"))
 	span.AddEvent(context.Background(), "barDrop",
 		kv.Bool("key2", true),
-		kv.NewKey("key3").String("value3"),
+		kv.Key("key3").String("value3"),
 	)
-	span.AddEvent(context.Background(), "foo", kv.NewKey("key1").String("value1"))
+	span.AddEvent(context.Background(), "foo", kv.Key("key1").String("value1"))
 	span.AddEvent(context.Background(), "bar",
 		kv.Bool("key2", false),
-		kv.NewKey("key3").String("value3"),
+		kv.Key("key3").String("value3"),
 	)
 	got, err := endSpan(te, span)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -466,18 +466,18 @@ func TestLinks(t *testing.T) {
 	te := &testExporter{}
 	tp, _ := NewProvider(WithSyncer(te))
 
-	k1v1 := kv.NewKey("key1").String("value1")
-	k2v2 := kv.NewKey("key2").String("value2")
-	k3v3 := kv.NewKey("key3").String("value3")
+	k1v1 := kv.Key("key1").String("value1")
+	k2v2 := kv.Key("key2").String("value2")
+	k3v3 := kv.Key("key3").String("value3")
 
 	sc1 := apitrace.SpanContext{TraceID: apitrace.ID([16]byte{1, 1}), SpanID: apitrace.SpanID{3}}
 	sc2 := apitrace.SpanContext{TraceID: apitrace.ID([16]byte{1, 1}), SpanID: apitrace.SpanID{3}}
 
 	span := startSpan(tp, "Links",
-		apitrace.LinkedTo(sc1, kv.NewKey("key1").String("value1")),
+		apitrace.LinkedTo(sc1, kv.Key("key1").String("value1")),
 		apitrace.LinkedTo(sc2,
-			kv.NewKey("key2").String("value2"),
-			kv.NewKey("key3").String("value3"),
+			kv.Key("key2").String("value2"),
+			kv.Key("key3").String("value3"),
 		),
 	)
 
@@ -516,13 +516,13 @@ func TestLinksOverLimit(t *testing.T) {
 	tp, _ := NewProvider(WithConfig(cfg), WithSyncer(te))
 
 	span := startSpan(tp, "LinksOverLimit",
-		apitrace.LinkedTo(sc1, kv.NewKey("key1").String("value1")),
-		apitrace.LinkedTo(sc2, kv.NewKey("key2").String("value2")),
-		apitrace.LinkedTo(sc3, kv.NewKey("key3").String("value3")),
+		apitrace.LinkedTo(sc1, kv.Key("key1").String("value1")),
+		apitrace.LinkedTo(sc2, kv.Key("key2").String("value2")),
+		apitrace.LinkedTo(sc3, kv.Key("key3").String("value3")),
 	)
 
-	k2v2 := kv.NewKey("key2").String("value2")
-	k3v3 := kv.NewKey("key3").String("value3")
+	k2v2 := kv.Key("key2").String("value2")
+	k3v3 := kv.Key("key3").String("value3")
 
 	got, err := endSpan(te, span)
 	if err != nil {