Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Kiran
UnisexSanskrit· “ray of light”
- Meaning
- ray of light
- Origin
- Sanskrit
- Pronunciation
- KEER-uhn
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,272
- US babies 2025
- 155
- Best rank
- #1,272 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Kiran
Kiran is a Sanskrit name that means “ray of light”.
The Sanskrit word kiran means 'ray of light' or 'beam', and as a name it is used for both boys and girls in India and among the Indian diaspora. It appears across several Indian languages, and the same light imagery gives it a warm, hopeful character. Kiran is short, easy to pronounce in English, and works well in multicultural families. Authors Kiran Desai and Kiran Nagarkar are well-known bearers. In Ireland a similar-sounding name, Kieran, comes from a different root, so the two are unrelated despite the resemblance.
Popularity over time
Kiran first appears in US Social Security records in 1970. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #1,272, and its highest count, 155 babies. Use has grown 25% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #2,795 in 1980, #1,984 in 2000, #1,561 in 2010, and #1,272 in 2025. Of the 3,165 US boys named Kiran since records began, 33% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 844 babies.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Amor, Asiah, Storm, Wisdom, and Aziah.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Kiran ranked highest in Massachusetts, Washington, and California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | #490 | 10 |
| Washington | #710 | 9 |
| California | #823 | 30 |
| New York | #870 | 16 |
| Ohio | #903 | 9 |
Gender, sound and spelling
Kiran is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 24% of US babies named Kiran were girls and 76% were boys.
Kiran is usually pronounced KEER-uhn, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with K and ends in “-an”.
Middle names for Kiran
A few middle names that flow with Kiran: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Kiran
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Lists that include Kiran
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kiran mean?
Kiran is a Sanskrit name that means “ray of light”.
What is the origin of the name Kiran?
Kiran has Sanskrit roots. The Sanskrit word kiran means 'ray of light' or 'beam', and as a name it is used for both boys and girls in India and among the Indian diaspora.
Is Kiran a popular name?
Not especially. Kiran ranked #1,272 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Kiran a boy or girl name?
Kiran is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 24% of US babies named Kiran were girls and 76% were boys.
How do you pronounce Kiran?
Kiran is usually pronounced KEER-uhn. 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