Given name & surname · also Russian
Kira
“little dark-haired one”
In English use, Kira has a related form in Kiera. In Irish use, Kiera carries the interpretation “little dark-haired one.”
Original RussianКира
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Kira has a related form in Kiera. In Irish use, Kiera carries the interpretation “little dark-haired one.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Kira comes from Russian, and ultimately from Irish.
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
How it developed
In English usage, Kira developed from کوروش.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1938. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kira through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 40,856
- 27 boys · 40,829 girls
- Most popular year
- 2005
- 1,396 babies
- 2025
- 801
- #385 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −8%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 801 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 385 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 8.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 1,391 in 2005. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (166). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 35,464 as a first name in 2020; 276 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.
Kira’s family of names
In English usage, Kira developed from the Persian form کوروش. In English usage, Kira has a related form in Kyra. In Polish usage, Kira has a conventional equivalent in the Czech form Kyra.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Kira has relatives in 7 languages. Lines run from its Irish roots to each of them.
8 related names in 7 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 4
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 8
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Kira
- Kira MuratovaSoviet and Ukrainian film director, screenwriter, film actress (1934–2018)
- Kira KosarinAmerican actress and singer (born 1997)
- Grand Duchess Kira Kirillovna of Russiayounger daughter of Grand Duke Kirill of Russia and Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1909-1967); wife of Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia
- Kira ZvorykinaSoviet chess player (1919–2014)
- Kira RudikUkrainian politicianborn 1985
- Kira YarmyshAlexei Navalny's spokesperson and writerborn 1989
- Kira KimuraJapanese snowboarder (2004-)
- Kira GrünbergAustrian pole vaulting athlete and politicianborn 1993
- Kira WalkenhorstGerman beach volleyball playerborn 1990
Characters named Kira: Kira Yamato (Mobile Suit Gundam SEED), Kira (Mortal Kombat character).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kira, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Akira
“one who acts as an anchor”
15% boys · 85% girls
Kinley
Kinley is a feminine given name from Scottish Gaelic.
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Kendall
“from the royal valley”
15% boys · 85% girls
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“the son of Kenna; to ascend”
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Kenna
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Cassidy
“curly-haired girl” · “a clever man”
7% boys · 93% girls
Nadia
“one who is full of hope”
>99% girls