Given name & surname · also Indian
Kiri
“resembling the amaranth flower”·“resembling the mountains”
Kiri is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “resembling the amaranth flower” (Indian) and “resembling the mountains” (Vietnamese). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “resembling the amaranth flower” (Indian) and “resembling the mountains” (Vietnamese). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with Indian and Vietnamese naming traditions.
How it developed
Probably from Ancient Greek Κύριλλος, from Latin Cȳrillus.
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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
Kiri through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 994
- 5 boys · 989 girls
- Most popular year
- 1984
- 60 babies
- 2025
- 20
- #6,023 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +33%
- Rising
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 20 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 6,023 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 25.0% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 60 in 1984. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,021 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.
Kiri’s family of names
Kiri has a related form in Kiera. Kiri has a related form in Kiree. Kiri has a related form in Kirea.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 5
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Kiri
- Kiri Te KanawaNew Zealand opera singerborn 1944
- Kiri TontodonatiItalian rowerborn 1994
- Kiri AllanNew Zealand politicianborn 1984
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kiri, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Lieu
“of the willow tree”
>99% girls
Huong
“having a delicate scent of a flower”
>99% girls
Hang
“of the moon”
>99% girls
Nguyet
“woman of the moon”
>99% girls
Hanh
“from the apricot tree”
4% boys · 96% girls
Umeko
“one who is patient; a plum-blossom child”
>99% girls
Kumuda
“resembling a flower”
5% boys · 95% girls
Oki
“from the center of the ocean”
9% boys · 91% girls