Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Kia
GirlAmerican (modern coinage)· “modern short name, origin uncertain”
- Meaning
- modern short name, origin uncertain (origin disputed)
- Origin
- American (modern coinage)
- Pronunciation
- KEE-uh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #8,621
- US babies 2025
- 12
- Best rank
- #634 (1983)
- Peak year
- 1993
Meaning and origin of Kia
Kia is often said to mean “modern short name, origin uncertain”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to American (modern coinage) roots.
Kia is a modern short name whose origin is uncertain. It may be a short form of names such as Kiana or Kiara, or it may have been shaped by other short names like Mia and Tia. It is said KEE-uh. Kia is also the name of a Korean car company, whose name is sometimes explained as "rising out of Asia," and most people will think of the brand first.
Popularity over time
Kia first appears in US Social Security records in 1956. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 26 different years, starting in 1971. Its best national rank was #634 in 1983, and the most babies received it in 1993, when 344 were named Kia. In 2025, 12 babies were named Kia, and it ranked #8,621 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #740 in 1980, #1,408 in 2000, #5,334 in 2010, and #8,621 in 2025. Of the 7,613 US girls named Kia since records began, 30% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 1980s come next, with 2,254 babies. Since 2010, 281 more have been named Kia.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Kalyn, Lucero, Rikki, Hali, and Chante.
Gender, sound and spelling
About 92% of US babies named Kia over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
Kia is usually pronounced KEE-uh, with two syllables. It has three letters, starts with K and ends in “-ia”.
Middle names for Kia
A few middle names that flow with Kia: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Kia
Similar names
Nakia Girl
nuh-KEE-uh
“modern name, uncertain origin” · American (modern coinage)
#11,617
Tahlia Girl
TAHL-ee-uh
“variant of Talia” · Hebrew
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Ellia Girl
EH-lee-uh
“modern variant of Ella or Elia” · American (modern coinage)
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Nikia Girl
nih-KEE-uh
“uncertain; possibly related to Nike, victory” · American (modern coinage)
rare
Leia Girl
LAY-uh
“uncertain; popularized by Star Wars” · American (modern coinage)
#297
Cinthia Girl
SIN-thee-uh
“variant of Cynthia, from Mount Cynthus” · Spanish
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Portia Girl
PAWR-shuh
“from Roman family name Porcius” · Latin
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Mia Girl
MEE-uh
“short form of Maria; Italian for mine” · Scandinavian
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Julia Girl
JOOL-yuh
“uncertain; Roman family name” · Latin
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Kasia Girl
KAH-shuh
“Polish pet form of Katarzyna” · Polish
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Alivia Girl
uh-LIV-ee-uh
“variant of Olivia” · American (modern coinage)
#484
Nadia Girl
NAHD-yuh
“hope” · Russian
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Lists that include Kia
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kia mean?
Kia is often said to mean “modern short name, origin uncertain”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to American (modern coinage) roots.
What is the origin of the name Kia?
Kia has modern American roots. Kia is a modern short name whose origin is uncertain.
Is Kia a popular name?
Not especially. Kia ranked #8,621 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Kia a boy or girl name?
Kia is mainly a girl's name. About 92% of US babies named Kia over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
How do you pronounce Kia?
Kia is usually pronounced KEE-uh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings