How to say it
ki · AR · a
/kiˈɑr.ə/
Feminine
Kiara
Clear, bright
What it means
Anglicized spelling of the Italian Chiara ('clear, bright, famous'), the same name as Saint Clare of Assisi. The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998) features Kiara, the daughter of Simba and Nala.
Kiara is an anglicized spelling of the Italian Chiara, meaning 'clear, bright, or famous,' from the Latin clarus (the root that also gives Clara and Clare). Saint Clare of Assisi (1194-1253), the founder of the Poor Clares, is the patron-saint anchor through the Italian Chiara line. The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (Disney, 1998) features Kiara, the daughter of Simba and Nala, which brought the name into US use. Kiara Advani the Bollywood actress (Kabir Singh, JugJugg Jeeyo) and the K-pop group Kiara give additional contemporary reference points. As a US name Kiara has been in the top 500 since the 1990s. Common short: Kia.
Popularity over time
peaked at #78 in 1999, currently #229 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Chiara (Italian, KYAH-rah), Kiara (anglicized, kee-AR-ah), and Ciara (Irish, KEE-rah) are related but pronounced differently.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Kiara (The Lion King II) Daughter of Simba and Nala in Disney's 1998 sequel
- Kiara Advani Indian actress, Kabir Singh and JugJugg Jeeyo
Spelling variants
- Chiara
- Ciara
- Kyra
Names with the same feeling
See Kiara from another angle
By meaning
By style