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Home › Baby Names Directory › Kiran

Kiran

♂ Boy

Pronounced KEER-an /ˈkɪər.ɑːn/Low

Meaning: Ray of light, sunbeam, beam of sunshineLow

In 30 seconds: Kiran is a beautiful Sanskrit name meaning ray of light or sunbeam. Used across South Asia for both boys and girls, it has the warmth and brilliance of actual sunlight embedded in its very meaning.
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Origin LowSanskrit, Hindi
MeaningRay of light, sunbeam, beam of sunshine
U.S. rank (2025)#1272 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births155 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 3,164

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202519702025

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

Kiran derives from Sanskrit kirana meaning ray of light, sunbeam, or beam of sunshine. It is used in India in Hindi, Gujarati, Kannada, and other languages.

Kiran is used in South Asian communities worldwide. Its two syllables are easy to pronounce across languages.

Did you know? In Sanskrit literature, kiran is used poetically to describe rays of sunlight or moonlight — making this a name of extraordinary luminous beauty and poetic resonance found throughout classical Indian literature.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name: Kiran

Variations

KiraanKyran

Nicknames

Ki

Famous Bearers

  • ★Kiran Bedi (1949-present)
    Indian social activist and first woman to join the Indian Police Service; former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry

If you like Kiran…

Arjun— Sanskrit hero name of same tradition
Rohan— Sanskrit ascending name
Dhruv— Sanskrit steadfast name
Jai— Sanskrit victory name

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Frequently Asked

What does Kiran mean?

Kiran means ray of light or sunbeam in Sanskrit.

Is Kiran a boy or girl name?

Kiran is gender-neutral and used for both boys and girls in South Asia.

How do you pronounce Kiran?

Kiran is pronounced KEER-an with two syllables.

What names are similar to Kiran?

Similar Sanskrit names include Arjun, Rohan, and Dhruv.

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