Kira
Kira is a girls' name of English origin meaning “beam of light, dark-haired.” It ranked #385 in the United States in 2025.
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how do you pronounce Kira?
KEER-ah
where does the name Kira come from?
Kira comes from Kyra, ultimately from Cyrus, and is also a respelling of the Gaelic Ciara.
Kira has multiple etymological threads: from the Russian form of Cyrus (sun), the Irish Ciara (dark-haired), or the Japanese word for 'glittering.' This multicultural versatility has made it popular across many countries. The name has a sleek, modern sound with an edge of mystery and luminosity.
how popular is this name?
Kira has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 54 years since 1969, and fell outside it for 3. It peaked at #241 in 2005, and ranked #385 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #385 |
| 2024 | #455 |
| 2023 | #429 |
| 2022 | #390 |
| 2021 | #384 |
| 2020 | #385 |
| 2019 | #383 |
| 2018 | #379 |
| 2017 | #378 |
| 2016 | #369 |
| 2010 | #309 |
| 2005 | #241 |
| 2000 | #292 |
| 1990 | #527 |
| 1980 | #784 |
| 1969 | #990 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Kira fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Kira
Kira has several origins and is used for both sexes; in Japan it is a unisex given name.
who are famous people named Kira?
- Kira Nerys (fictional character from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
what are the nicknames and variants of Kira?
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Kira?
what names go well with Kira?
Sibling names that share Kira's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Kira
What does the name Kira mean?
Kira means “beam of light, dark-haired”.
What is the origin of the name Kira?
Kira comes from the English naming tradition. Related forms include Kyra and Ciara.
How popular is the name Kira?
Kira ranked #385 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2005, at #241, and it has spent 54 years in the top 1,000 since 1969.
Is Kira a boy or girl name?
Kira is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Kira?
Kira is pronounced KEER-ah, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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