Kira
Girl name · #386 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Kira? In official American birth records, Kira has been tracked continuously since 1938, giving it 87 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 801 baby girls were named Kira, placing it at #386 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #361, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,247 girls born in 2025 was named Kira.
Babies named Kira per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 87-year story
Kira first appears in the Social Security records in 1938, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2005, when 1,391 girls were named Kira — good for #241 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Kira against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kira in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Kira is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Kira is most common
Geography matters for names, and Kira is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Kira is most common in HI (5.1 per 1,000), WA (1.1 per 1,000), CA (1 per 1,000), MN (0.9 per 1,000), MA (0.9 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.6 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Kira is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Kira
Statistically, parents drawn to Kira tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Keira, Kyra, Kyla, Akira, and Kiara.
KeiraKyraKylaAkiraKiaraKieraAnyaTessa
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kira | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 801 | #385 |
| 2024 | 689 | #455 |
| 2023 | 721 | #429 |
| 2022 | 801 | #390 |
| 2021 | 814 | #384 |
| 2020 | 808 | #385 |
| 2019 | 818 | #383 |
| 2018 | 829 | #379 |
| 2017 | 821 | #378 |
| 2016 | 881 | #369 |
| 2015 | 910 | #361 |
| 2014 | 950 | #349 |
| 2013 | 902 | #355 |
| 2012 | 886 | #358 |
| 2011 | 946 | #333 |
| 2010 | 1,036 | #309 |
| 2009 | 1,117 | #295 |
| 2008 | 1,370 | #251 |
| 2007 | 1,266 | #269 |
| 2006 | 1,362 | #249 |
| 2005 | 1,391 | #241 |
| 2004 | 1,184 | #275 |
| 2003 | 1,084 | #287 |
| 2002 | 1,126 | #277 |
| 2001 | 1,093 | #286 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Kira?
In official American birth records, the name Kira first appeared in 1938 (over 87 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 87 years.
Is Kira a popular girl name?
Kira ranked #386 among girls in 2025 with 801 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #361.
When was the name Kira most popular?
Kira peaked in 2005, when 1,391 American girls received the name (ranked #241 that year). Since 2005 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Kira?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,247 newborn American girls was named Kira. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.