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Kierra

♀ Girl

Pronounced KEER-ah /ˈkɪər.ə/High

Meaning: Variant of Ciara, from the Irish Gaelic word ciar meaning dark, black-haired, or dusky.High

In 30 seconds: Kierra is a spirited name meaning dark or sun, bridging Irish and Persian roots depending on the intended origin. Its double-R spelling gives it energy and makes it stand apart from Kira and Ciara.
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Origin HighIrish Gaelic, Persian
MeaningVariant of Ciara, from the Irish Gaelic word ciar meaning dark, black-haired, or dusky.
U.S. rank (2024)#2983 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births55 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1995
Total births (all-time)≈ 15,616

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199519752024

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

History & Origin

Kierra is primarily a phonetic respelling of Ciara, the Irish Gaelic name derived from *ciar* (dark, black). Ciara was borne by several early Irish saints, giving it a strong heritage in Ireland.

The spelling Kierra emerged in the United States and other English-speaking countries as parents sought to preserve the KEER-ah sound without the unexpected Irish spelling Ciara (often mispronounced as see-AHR-ah). It belongs to the cluster of Kira, Keira, Kyra, and Kierra variants popular in the 1990s and 2000s.

Did you know? Saint Ciara of Kilkeary (the name Kierra derives from) was a 6th-century Irish abbess, and Saint Ciara of Clonmacnoise was another early Irish religious woman — both namesakes who gave the name deep roots in Irish Christian tradition.
Overall data confidence 87%
Behind the Name — Ciara — Irish etymology of the source name

Variations

CiaraKiraKeiraKyraKeera

Nicknames

KiKiki

Famous Bearers

  • ★Kierra Sheard (1987–present)
    American gospel singer and actress, daughter of Karen Clark Sheard of the Clark Sisters.

If you like Kierra…

Keira— Near-identical sound, another phonetic variant of Ciara
Kira— Shared sound and overlap in Persian/Irish roots
Ciara— The original Irish Gaelic form of the same name
Kyra— Y-spelling variant with same KEER-ah pronunciation
Sierra— Similar sound, different origin, shares the -erra ending

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kierra mean?

Kierra primarily means dark or black-haired, as a variant of the Irish Gaelic Ciara. It may also connect to the Persian name Kira meaning sun or throne.

How do you pronounce Kierra?

Kierra is pronounced KEER-ah, two syllables with stress on the first: /ˈkɪər.ə/.

Is Kierra a boy or girl name?

Kierra is a girl's name.

How popular is Kierra?

Kierra was moderately popular in the US during the 1990s and 2000s. It is less common today but still recognized.