How to say it
KI · ra
ˈkɪər.ə
Feminine
Kira
Light, or lord
What it means
Several roots converge: a Russian feminine of Cyrus ('lord' or 'sun'), a Persian sense of 'light,' and an Irish ciar, 'dark.'
Kira gathers a few origins on one short spelling. In Russian it is the feminine of Cyrus, linked to 'lord' or 'sun'; in Persian it reads as 'light'; and the Irish Ciara root means 'dark.' That cross-cultural reach, plus bright bearers like The Dark Crystal's Kira and Star Trek's Kira Nerys, has kept it climbing. Said KEER-uh. Kyra and Keira are the close cousins.
How to spell Kira
The standard spelling is Kira. Common variants include Kyra, Keira, Kiera, but Kira is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #241 in 2005, currently #385 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Kira, Kyra, Keira, and Kiera are all in use.
- Pronunciation
KEER-uh.
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.
- Kira Nerys the Bajoran officer of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Spelling variants
- Kyra
- Keira
- Kiera
Names with the same feeling
See Kira from another angle
By meaning
Common questions
- What does the name Kira mean?
- Several roots converge: a Russian feminine of Cyrus ('lord' or 'sun'), a Persian sense of 'light,' and an Irish ciar, 'dark.'
- What does Kira mean in Russian?
- In Russian, Kira means "Light, or lord." Kira gathers a few origins on one short spelling. In Russian it is the feminine of Cyrus, linked to 'lord' or 'sun'; in Persian it reads as 'light'; and the Irish Ciara root means 'dark.' That cross-cultural reach, plus bright bearers like The Dark Crystal's Kira and Star Trek's Kira Nerys, has kept it climbing. Said KEER-uh. Kyra and Keira are the close cousins.
- How do you pronounce Kira?
- Kira is pronounced ˈkɪər.ə. Say it as KI-ra, with the stress on the "ki" syllable.
- How do you spell Kira?
- The standard spelling is Kira. Common spelling variants include Kyra, Keira, Kiera.
- Is Kira a boy or girl name?
- Kira is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Kira?
- Kira ranked #385 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.