Kisa

♀ Girl

Pronounced KEE-sah /ˈki.sə/Medium

Meaning: Kisa is a short, open-sounding name most plausibly connected to Keziah, from Hebrew 'qetsi'ah', the fragrant cassia spice and a daughter of Job. It also serves as a Russian term of endearment ('kitty') and a Swahili word, so families reached it by more than one route.Low

In 30 seconds: Kisa is a soft, two-beat name tied to the biblical Keziah, 'cassia', and echoed by Slavic and Swahili words. Quietly used, it peaked around 1978 and stayed rare (said 'KEE-sah').

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Origin LowHebrew, American

MeaningKisa is a short, open-sounding name most plausibly connected to Keziah, from Hebrew 'qetsi'ah', the fragrant cassia spice and a daughter of Job. It also serves as a Russian term of endearment ('kitty') and a Swahili word, so families reached it by more than one route.

U.S. rank (2023)#9318 ↗ Rising

2023 U.S. births11 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1978

Total births (all-time)≈ 628

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

Kisa is a compact name whose likeliest English root is Keziah, from Hebrew qetsi'ah, the sweet-smelling cassia bark and the name of one of Job's daughters. The same short shape doubles as an affectionate Russian word and a Swahili term, so American parents may have arrived at Kisa from different starting points.

Kisa was never common, borne by only a few dozen girls a year with a faint peak around 1978 and small, steady use since. It sits beside Keziah, Kisha, and Keisha in sound.

Did you know? Kisa points in several directions at once: to the biblical Keziah and her fragrant cassia, to a Russian pet word for a kitten, and to a Swahili term - a small name with a surprisingly wide reach.

Overall data confidence 45%

References - Kisa / Keziah — link to Keziah (Hebrew 'cassia'); Slavic/Swahili echoes

Variations

KeesaKishaKeziahKysa

Nicknames

KikiKis

Famous Bearers

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If you like Kisa…

Keziah— the biblical name Kisa most likely shortens

Kisha— a similar short name of the same era

Keisha— a related K- girls' name with a soft sound

Kesia— another Keziah-derived short form

Explore names like Kisa

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Kisa mean?

Kisa is a short name most likely linked to Keziah, from Hebrew for the cassia spice; it also occurs as a Slavic and Swahili word.

How do you pronounce Kisa?

It's said KEE-sah /ˈki.sə/ - two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Kisa a boy or girl name?

Kisa is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Kisa?

Kisa is rare, a soft short name with several possible roots.