Given name & surname
Kia
“follower of Christ”
In English use, Kia is a diminutive of Christina. One English interpretation is “follower of Christ.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Kia is a diminutive of Christina. One English interpretation is “follower of Christ.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Kia is a variant of Kiana. Kiana has been associated with Hawaiian and Irish naming traditions. In English use, Kia is a diminutive of Christina. Christina has been associated with Latin and Middle English naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Kia is a diminutive of Christina. In Swedish usage, Kia is a diminutive of Kristina.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1956. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kia through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 7,809
- 196 boys · 7,613 girls
- Most popular year
- 1993
- 357 babies
- 2025
- 12
- #8,621 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −28%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 12 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 8,621 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 32.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 344 in 1993. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 8,949 as a first name in 2020; 443 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Kia’s family of names
In English usage, Kia is a diminutive of Christina. Kia has a related form in Kiana. In Swedish usage, Kia is a diminutive of Kristina.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Kia has relatives in 3 languages.
3 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 6
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Kia
- Awesome KongAmerican professional wrestlerborn 1977
- Kia VaughnAmerican basketball playerborn 1987
- Kia NurseCanadian basketball player (born 1996)
- Kia AbdullahBritish novelistborn 1982
- Kia DavisLibyan sprinterborn 1976
- Kia McNeillAmerican soccer playerborn 1986
- Kia JoorabchianIranian businessmanborn 1971
- Kia GoodwinAmerican actressborn 1973
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kia, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Katia
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Kaila
“crowned with laurel” · “a stylish man”
>99% girls
Kelsie
“from the island of ships; of the ship's victory”
>99% girls
Bria
“from the high hill; one who ascends”
>99% girls
Kara
“one who is pure” · “dearly loved”
>99% girls
Carina
“little darling”
>99% girls
Tania
“queen of the fairies”
>99% girls
Kianna
“of an ancient family”
>99% girls