Kiran
Meaning
ray of light; a unisex name used since the first big wave of Indian American immigration, and a near-homophone of the Irish name Kieran ("dark-haired"); two unrelated names, same sound, used across both communities
Famously borne by Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, founder of Biocon.
Popularity, 1890–2024
Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Kiran peaked in the 2000s and the 2020s in nearly equal measure.
See popularity in Brazil
Popularity in Brazil
38 people · the #80,303 first name in Brazil · median age 14
Source: IBGE, Censo Demográfico 2022
When you meet Kiran
Most people given the name Kiran in the United States are teenagers or young adults today.
Estimated from US Social Security birth registrations and typical lifespans; a rough guide, not a rule.
The Kiran deep dive
Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Kiran truly comes from, how it traveled, and what a century of records reveals. If you have grown a tree on nametree, it also considers how Kiran fits with your family’s names and surname.
Where Kiran travels
Indian American · ray of light (a unisex crossover name used since the first big wave of Indian American immigration)
Nepali · ray of light (Sanskrit kirana); in Nepal it is usually a boys' name, though Americans read it as unisex
Keep exploring
Nepali baby names · Dual-language baby names · Indian American baby names · Gender-neutral names
Does Kiran fit YOUR family?
nametree reads your family’s names and finds the ones that belong. Free, private, no ads.
Add Kiran to your family’s tree →