Given name & surname · also Sanskrit
Kiran
“dust, thread”·“a ray of light”
Kiran is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “dust, thread” (Sanskrit) and “a ray of light” (Hindi). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “dust, thread” (Sanskrit) and “a ray of light” (Hindi). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Sanskrit.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1966. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kiran through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 5,041
- 3,165 boys · 1,876 girls
- Most popular year
- 2008
- 198 babies
- 2025
- 172
- #1,272 for boys · #6,697 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +14%
- Rising
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 87% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 155 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,272 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 27.7% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 17 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (30). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 10,388 as a first name in 2020; 704 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.
Kiran’s family of names
Kiran has a related form in Kiera. Kiran has a related form in Kyron. In English usage, Kiran has a related form in Kyran.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 12
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Kyrenvariant
- Kieravariant
- Kyrinvariant
- Kyronvariant
- Kyranvariant · English
- Kirinvariant
- Kyrynvariant
- Kirenvariant
Show 4 moreShow fewer
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Kiran
- Kiran DesaiIndian authorborn 1971
- Kiran Mazumdar-ShawIndian entrepreneur and founder of Biocon (born 1953)
- Kiran BediFirst female Indian Police Service Officer (born 1949)
- Kiran RaoIndian film director, screenwriter and film producerborn 1973
- Kiran BadloeDutch windsurferborn 1994
- Kiran RathodIndian actressborn 1981
- Kiran MoreIndian cricket playerborn 1962
- Kiran KumarIndian actorborn 1953
- Kiran ShahKenyan actorborn 1956
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kiran, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Vivaan
“plaiting, twisting”
>99% boys
Aryan
“noble; noble one”
94% boys · 6% girls
Ishaan
“of the sun”
>99% boys
Jeevan
“full of life”
>99% boys
Srijan
“creation”
>99% boys
Kailas
“the home of Lord Shiva”
>99% boys
Aarush
Aarush is a masculine given name from Hindi.
>99% boys
Madan
“the god of love”
>99% boys