Kiran Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

At a Glance: Name: Kiran – Meaning: ray of light / beam of light – Origin: Sanskrit – Gender: Neutral – Pronunciation: KEER-un

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Kiran is a Sanskrit name meaning "ray of light" or "beam of light," and it's used for children of any gender. It's pronounced KEER-un (IPA /ˈkɪrən), and it has both a worldly and clean, modern feel. If you want a short name with a clear, luminous meaning, Kiran fits that brief.

Meaning & Origin of Kiran

Meaning: Ray of light / beam of light.

Origin: Sanskrit.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Kiran

Phonetic: KEER-un   IPA: /ˈkɪrən/

Popularity of Kiran

In 2024, the most recent year in the SSA's data, 142 babies were named Kiran, putting it at #1344 nationally — and that's also its highest rank across the full 1966-2024 record, meaning it has never ranked higher than it does right now.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1966–2024.

Make Kiran Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Kiran, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Akira
• Ananya
• Arav
• Ariya
• Ariyah
• Arnav

FAQ

What does the name Kiran mean?

Ray of light / beam of light. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Kiran)

How do you pronounce Kiran?

Kiran is pronounced KEER-un (IPA: /ˈkɪrən/).

Is Kiran a popular name right now?

Kiran is at its highest recorded popularity right now, ranked #1344 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1966–2024.)

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