Given name
Kiera
“little dark-haired one”·“having dark features; the little dark one”
In Irish and English use, Kiera is a feminine form of Kieran. One interpretation is “having dark features; the little dark one.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Irish use, Kiera carries the interpretation “little dark-haired one.” In Irish and English use, Kiera is a feminine form of Kieran. One interpretation is “having dark features; the little dark one.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Irish.
How it developed
Kiera is used as a feminine counterpart of Kieran.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1963. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kiera through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 21,870
- 19 boys · 21,851 girls
- Most popular year
- 2007
- 1,147 babies
- 2025
- 219
- #1,097 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −25%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 219 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,097 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 25.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 1,147 in 2007. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (32). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 18,929 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Kiera’s family of names
Kiera is a feminine form of Kieran. Kiera has a related form in Kiara. In French usage, Kiera has a related form in Kyra.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 26
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Kiera
- Kiera CassAmerican writer of young-adult speculative fictionborn 1981
- Kiera Chaplinmodel, entrepreneur and actress from Northern Irelandborn 1982
- Kiera Van RykCanadian volleyball playerborn 1999
- Kiera HoganAmerican professional wrestlerborn 1994
- Kiera GazzardAustralian synchronised swimmerborn 2001
- Kiera SkeelsEnglish footballerborn 2001
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kiera, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kiana
“from an ancient family” · “of an ancient family”
>99% girls
McKenna
“the son of Kenna; to ascend”
>99% girls
Kerrigan
“having black hair”
7% boys · 93% girls
Caitlyn
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Cassidy
“curly-haired girl” · “a clever man”
7% boys · 93% girls
Bree
“from the high hill; one who ascends”
>99% girls
Mccartney
“son of Artan”
23% boys · 77% girls
Brianna
“from the high hill; one who ascends”
>99% girls