Kira

Updated: July 7, 2022 by MomsWhoThink Staff

Kira is currently one of the most popular names for baby girls in the United States, but no one knows exactly where it came from. It's a name that could have Greek, Russian, Irish, Sanskrit, or Japanese roots. It also comes with a variety of spellings. Whatever origin story you like, Kira is short, simple, and feminine, and we can see it sticking around for a while, especially as “K” names remains so beloved. It also pairs well with most middle names.

Meaning of the name Kira:

Irish: Black, dark-haired
Greek: Lord (lady)
Russian: Mistress or ruler
Sanskrit: Beam of light
Japanese: Shiny, glittery

Origin of the name Kira:

No one knows the exact origin of Kira, or maybe the truth is that it's an American name with several potential origin stories. First, many people believe it's an Irish name derived from Ciara, which means “black” or “dark-haired.” Second, it's possibly derived from the Greek word “kýrios,” which means “lord.” Since it's a feminine name, the meaning could be “lady.” Third, in Russia, Kira is considered a feminine form of the name Kir, which means “mistress” or “ruler.” Fourth, it's possibly derived from the Sanskrit name Kiran, which means “beam of light.” Finally, Kira is an anglicized version of a Japanese name that means “glittery” or “shiny.”

Symbolism of the name Kira:

Any symbolism you find in the baby name Kira will likely have to do with the meaning you relate to the most. For example, if you have a little dark-haired baby girl, you may find symbolism in the Irish meaning. You might like the Sanskrit meaning if you see your baby girl as a “shining light” in your world.

Style of the name Kira:

Modern

Gender of the name Kira:

Kira is a girl's name.

Pronunciation of the name Kira:

KEER-uh or KEE-ruh

Number of syllables in the name Kira:

Two

Emotion evoked from the name Kira:

The baby's name Kira evokes images of someone who is sassy and outspoken.

Alternative spellings for the name Kira:

Keera
Kyra
Keara
Kirah
Kirra

Nicknames for the name Kira:

Kay
KiKi

Popularity of the name Kira:

According to the Social Security Administration, Kira has been a top 1,000 baby name for girls in the United States since 1969. It was most popular during the 2000s when it reached as high as number 241. As of 2021, it ranks at number 384.