Unisex name · Sanskrit
Kiran
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: ray of lightKiran is a gender-neutral name that comes from Sanskrit and means "ray of light". It is used in Indian.
- Meaning
- Ray of light
- Origin
- Sanskrit
- Gender
- Unisex
- US rank
- #6697 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Kiran
As a gender-neutral name, Kiran comes from Sanskrit and means "ray of light". It is used in Indian.
Its meaning puts Kiran on our names that mean light list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Kiran on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Kiran on 4 lists.
“Sanskrit for ray of light, used for girls and boys”
From Female demon hunter names, names that mean light, hunt or battle
“Ray of light; Sanskrit, given to boys and girls in India”
From Gender neutral names, unisex names from Asia and the Pacific
“Ray of light, sunbeam; Sanskrit, used for both genders.”
From Indian names, indian names meaning light, sun and moon
“Ray of light; Sanskrit, for girls and boys”
From Names that mean light, unisex names that mean light
How popular is Kiran?
In 2025, 17 girls and 155 boys in the US were named Kiran.
As a girl’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #6,697
- 17 babies, 11 per million girls
- Best rank
- #2,167 in 2002
- Most babies: 79 in 2008
- Babies since 1966
- At least 1,876
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 1 per million |
| 1970s | 8 per million |
| 1980s | 14 per million |
| 1990s | 23 per million |
| 2000s | 37 per million |
| 2010s | 19 per million |
| 2020s | 7 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,395 | #5,452 | #5,084 | #6,891 | #8,694 | #8,742 | #10,076 | #9,321 | #9,927 | #6,697 |
As a boy’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #1,272
- 155 babies, 91 per million boys
- Best rank
- #1,272 in 2025
- 155 babies that year
- Babies since 1970
- At least 3,165
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 0 per million |
| 1970s | 5 per million |
| 1980s | 8 per million |
| 1990s | 16 per million |
| 2000s | 42 per million |
| 2010s | 56 per million |
| 2020s | 71 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,569 | #1,614 | #1,653 | #1,706 | #1,616 | #1,509 | #1,617 | #1,601 | #1,349 | #1,272 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Kiran
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- KianAncient, enduring (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- KieranLittle dark one (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- KaranClever, skillful (Sanskrit, boy)
- KirazCherry (Turkish, girl)
- KeiraDark one (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- KaanRuler, khan (Turkish, boy)
- KağanKing, ruler (Turkish, boy)
- KamranSuccessful, fortunate (Persian, boy)
- KarinScandinavian form of Katherine, popular in Germany (Greek, girl)
Names with a similar meaning
- LuciaLight, brightness (Latin, girl)
- LucianaLight, brightness (Latin, girl)
- LucianoLight, brightness (Latin, boy)
- LucyLight, brightness (Latin, girl)
- NoorLight, radiance (Arabic, unisex)
- UrielGod is my light (Hebrew, boy)
- AbnerMy father is light (Hebrew, boy)
- LuceLight (Latin, girl)
- LucilleLight (Latin, girl)
- NuriMy light (Arabic, boy)
Middle names for Kiran
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
- AbigailMy father is joy (Hebrew, girl)
- AltonTown at a river's source (Old English, boy)
- AoifeBeauty, radiance (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- AureliaGolden (Latin, girl)
- IsabellaGod is my oath (Hebrew, girl)
- LydiaWoman from Lydia (Greek, girl)
- PearlPrecious gem from the sea (Latin, girl)
- PeregrineTraveler, pilgrim (Latin, boy)
More names from Sanskrit
- AryaNoble, honorable (Sanskrit, unisex)
- BodhiEnlightenment (Sanskrit, boy)
- AadhyaFirst, primal (Sanskrit, girl)
- AarohiAscending, a rising musical scale (Sanskrit, girl)
- AbhaSplendor, light (Sanskrit, girl)
- AbhayFearless (Sanskrit, boy)
- AbhilashDesire, wish (Sanskrit, boy)
- AbhilashaDesire, wish (Sanskrit, girl)
- AditiBoundless, limitless (Sanskrit, girl)
- AdityaSon of Aditi; the sun (Sanskrit, boy)
Kiran: common questions
What does the name Kiran mean?
Kiran comes from Sanskrit and means "ray of light".
Is Kiran a boy or girl name?
Kiran is used for both boys and girls. In 2025, 17 girls and 155 boys in the US were named Kiran, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Kiran come from?
Kiran comes from Sanskrit and means "ray of light". Today it is used in Indian.
How popular is the name Kiran?
Kiran ranked #6,697 in the US in 2025, with 17 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Kiran?
Names spelled like Kiran include Kian, Kieran, Karan, Kiraz and Keira.
What middle names go with Kiran?
Middle names that flow well with Kiran include Abigail, Alton, Aoife, Aurelia and Isabella. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.