Girl name · Russian
Kira
“ruler, throne; also light”
Vibes
Common nicknames
Short-forms and diminutives parents often use for Kira.
Explore Kira further
Similar-feel alternatives, or middle-name candidates that pair well with Kira — both ranked by the same scoring system (vibe overlap, syllable rhythm, origin compatibility).
About the name
Kira is the Russian feminine of Kyros, Greek for lord or ruler — the name of Cyrus the Great. It collides with several unrelated names that sound identical: Irish ciar, dark, and Japanese kira, glitter, are separate words that arrive at the same four letters.
That convergence is the whole story of the name in English: parents choose it for the sound and pick whichever meaning they like best. It sits at number 385 in the US.
Kiki is the short form, and a name people search for on its own. Two syllables want two or three (Kira Josephine, Kira Amara). On our vibe map it is Modern Minimalist with a Celestial tint from the glitter reading.
More Russian names
Kira sits in our Russian set — these share its roots.
All Russian names →Kira — common questions
Is Kira a boy or girl name?
Kira is traditionally a girl name of Russian origin.
What does the name Kira mean?
Kira means “ruler, throne; also light” of Russian origin. Kira is the Russian feminine of Kyros, Greek for lord or ruler — the name of Cyrus the Great. It collides with several unrelated names that sound identical: Irish ciar, dark, and Japanese kira, glitter, are separate words that arrive at the same four letters.
Where does the name Kira come from?
Kira is Russian in origin. That convergence is the whole story of the name in English: parents choose it for the sound and pick whichever meaning they like best. It sits at number 385 in the US.
What are common nicknames for Kira?
Ki and Kiki — the short-forms parents most often use for Kira.
How popular is Kira?
Kira did not make the top 1,000 girls' names in US Social Security Administration data for 2025, which makes it genuinely rare in the US.
Bring the name into the room
A couple of nice things named Kira you might want for the nursery.