Kiara Name Meaning

By
Elisa Cinelli
Elisa Cinelli
Elisa Cinelli

Elisa is a well-known parenting writer who is passionate about providing research-based content to help parents make the best decisions for their families. She has written for well-known sites including POPSUGAR Family and Scary Mommy, among others.

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Updated on July 19, 2021
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Kiara is a name with two different meanings. In an interesting spin, the dual meanings of the name Kiara are complete opposites. Kiara means "light" or "clear" as a variation of the traditional Italian spelling of the name Chiara. Chiara is the Italian form of the name Clare or Clara. Kiara is also a variation of the Irish name Ciara, which means "dark" or "black." Ciara is the feminine form of the Irish name Ciar or Ciarán.

While it most widely recognized for its Italian and Irish meanings, Kiara is also a Hindi name with the same meaning as the Irish form. In Swahili, the name Kiara means "princess."

  • Origin: Kiara is a name of both Italian and Irish origins. It also has Hindi and Swahili origins.
  • Gender: Kiara is frequently used as a girl name, but it is considered a gender-neutral name within the Hindi religion. Kiar or Kieren is often used as a boy name with the same meaning an origin of the Irish variation.
  • Pronunciation: Kee-AR-uh or KEE-ra

Although many baby names are separated by gender, Verywell Family believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.

How Popular Is the Name Kiara?

The name Kiara has been on the charts since 1988 when it was considered a pretty rare name at position No. 820. The following year it made its record jump of 706 points up to position No. 114. This major increase in popularity is most likely related to the the singing duo Kiara who released their song This Time in 1988.

After 1999, the name Kiara declined slowly in popularity before experiencing another big jump a decade later. In 1997 it dwindled at position No. 238, its lowest since its first appearance on the charts, but then reached No. 172 the following year and hit its peak at position No. 78 the year after that, in 1999.

This surge is likely related to the release of the animated move The Lion King II in 1998 whose protagonist was a princess lion cub named Kiara.

Kiara is currently on another slow decline in popularity. The Social Security Administration's most recent data places Kiara at position No. 308 as of 2020.

Name Variations

The late Latin name Clarus, whose feminine form is Chiara, is the root of many variations of the name Kiara. These variations are used in languages of Latin, Germanic, and Slavic origins.

Variations with the root name Chiara/Clare:

  • Chiara
  • Clara
  • Clare
  • Claire
  • Klara

Irish Variations of Kiara:

  • Keira
  • Kira

Similar Names

Names similar to Kiara include:

  • Carina
  • Clarette
  • Claribel
  • Clarinda
  • Keara
  • Kiarra
  • Kiera
  • Kierra
  • Kyra
  • Kysa
  • Sierra

Common Nicknames

Some possible nicknames for Kiara include:

  • Kiki
  • KK
  • Kia
  • Chiarina
  • Chiaretta

Suggested Sibling Names

Here are some ideas for sibling names that may work well with Kiara:

  • Anthony
  • Cecilia
  • Elisa
  • Lucas
  • Lila
  • Jack
  • Julia

Famous People Named Kiara

Here's a look at some famous celebrities and athelets with variations of the name Kiara.

Famous Kiaras

  • Kiara Advani, Indian actress who predominantly works in Hindi films
  • Kiara Brinkman, American writer known for her 2007 novel, Up High in the Trees
  • Kiara Kabukuru, American model known for her work with CoverGirl
  • Kiara Muhammed, American actress who started her career modeling for Reebok
  • Kiara Nowlin, American gymnast, World Champion power tumbler and an internationally ranked cheerleader
  • Kiara Sasso, Brazilian actress and singer
  • Kiara Laetitia, Italian rock singer and entrepreneur
  • Kiara Young, Miss Tennessee 2015

Famous Chiaras

  • Santa Chiara/Saint Clare of Assisi, Follower of Saint Francis who left her wealthy family to found the order of nuns known as the Poor Clares
  • Chiara Zanni, Canadian actress and comedian
  • Chiara Mastroianni, French actress and singer
  • Chiara Caselli, Italian actress
  • Chiara Rosa, Italian shot putter
  • Chiara Scholl, American tennis player

Famous Ciaras

  • Saint Ciara, Irish nun who established a monastery at Kilkeary in the 7th century
  • Ciara Bravo, American actress
  • Ciara Sheehy, Irish Olympic sprinter

More Baby Names

Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options: 

1 Source
Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Social Security Administration. Get Ready for Baby: Popularity of a Name.

By Elisa Cinelli
Elisa is a well-known parenting writer who is passionate about providing research-based content to help parents make the best decisions for their families. She has written for well-known sites including POPSUGAR Family and Scary Mommy, among others.

See Our Editorial Process
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