Kiera

♀ Girl

Pronounced KEER-uh /ˈkɪər.ə/High

Meaning: Dark or dark-haired; variant of Keira/Ciara, feminine of the Irish name Ciarán, from Irish Gaelic ciar (dark, black)High

In 30 seconds: A variant of Ciara/Keira meaning 'dark' or 'dark-haired' in Irish Gaelic. Saint Ciara of Kilkeary was one of Ireland's early women saints, and the name has been used in Ireland for over a millennium.

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Origin HighIrish

MeaningDark or dark-haired; variant of Keira/Ciara, feminine of the Irish name Ciarán, from Irish Gaelic ciar (dark, black)

U.S. rank (2025)#1097 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births219 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2007

Total births (all-time)≈ 21,849

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Kiera is a spelling variant of Keira and Ciara, the feminine form of the Irish name Ciarán, from Old Irish ciar (dark, black). Saint Ciara of Kilkeary (5th century) is one of the early Irish women saints bearing this name. The dark/black meaning was applied to hair or complexion.

Keira and Kiera rose significantly in the UK and the U.S. from the early 2000s, assisted by actress Keira Knightley. Kiera ranked #981 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? Keira Knightley's surname Knightley is purely coincidental — but her given name Keira (a variant of Kiera) surged in U.S. and UK charts after her rise to fame in the early 2000s.

Overall data confidence 90%

Behind the Name — Keira — Irish Gaelic etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

KeiraCiaraKyraKeara

Nicknames

Kier

Famous Bearers

★Kiera Cass (1981-)
American author of the young-adult Selection series
★Kiera Chaplin (1982-)
British-American model and actress, granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin

If you like Kiera…

Keira— the most common alternate spelling of the same Irish name

Ciara— the original Irish spelling of the same name

Kyra— short vowel-forward name with a similar sound

Fiona— Irish/Scottish feminine name with the same Celtic heritage

Niamh— Irish name meaning bright, in the same Celtic tradition

Explore names like Kiera

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Kiera mean?

Kiera means 'dark' or 'dark-haired,' as a spelling variant of Keira/Ciara, the feminine form of Irish Ciarán (from ciar: dark).

How do you pronounce Kiera?

It's said KEER-uh — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Kiera a boy or girl name?

Kiera is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Kiera?

Kiera ranked #981 for U.S. girls in 2024.