Kiara is a name with two different meanings. In an interesting spin, the dual meanings of the name Kiara are complete opposites. Kiara means “light” or “clear” as a variation of the traditional Italian spelling of the name Chiara. Chiara is the Italian form of the name Clare or Clara. Kiara is also a variation of the Irish name Ciara, which means “dark” or “black.” Ciara is the feminine form of the Irish name Ciar or Ciarán.

While it most widely recognized for its Italian and Irish meanings, Kiara is also a Hindi name with the same meaning as the Irish form. In Swahili, the name Kiara means “princess.”

The name Kiara has been on the charts since 1988 when it was considered a pretty rare name at position No. 820. The following year it made its record jump of 706 points up to position No. 114. This major increase in popularity is most likely related to the the singing duo Kiara who released their song This Time in 1988.

  • Origin: Kiara is a name of both Italian and Irish origins. It also has Hindi and Swahili origins.Gender: Kiara is frequently used as a girl name, but it is considered a gender-neutral name within the Hindi religion. Kiar or Kieren is often used as a boy name with the same meaning an origin of the Irish variation.Pronunciation: Kee-AR-uh or KEE-ra

Although many baby names are separated by gender, Verywell Family believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.

After 1999, the name Kiara declined slowly in popularity before experiencing another big jump a decade later. In 1997 it dwindled at position No. 238, its lowest since its first appearance on the charts, but then reached No. 172 the following year and hit its peak at position No. 78 the year after that, in 1999.

This surge is likely related to the release of the animated move The Lion King II in 1998 whose protagonist was a princess lion cub named Kiara.

Kiara is currently on another slow decline in popularity. The Social Security Administration’s most recent data places Kiara at position No. 308 as of 2020.

Name Variations

The late Latin name Clarus, whose feminine form is Chiara, is the root of many variations of the name Kiara. These variations are used in languages of Latin, Germanic, and Slavic origins.

Variations with the root name Chiara/Clare:

  • ChiaraClaraClareClaireKlara

Irish Variations of Kiara:

  • KeiraKira

Similar Names

Names similar to Kiara include:

  • CarinaClaretteClaribelClarindaKearaKiarraKieraKierraKyraKysaSierra

Common Nicknames

Some possible nicknames for Kiara include:

  • KikiKKKiaChiarinaChiaretta

Suggested Sibling Names

Here are some ideas for sibling names that may work well with Kiara:

  • AnthonyCeciliaElisaLucasLilaJackJulia

Famous People Named Kiara

Here’s a look at some famous celebrities and athelets with variations of the name Kiara.

Famous Kiaras

  • Kiara Advani, Indian actress who predominantly works in Hindi filmsKiara Brinkman, American writer known for her 2007 novel, Up High in the TreesKiara Kabukuru, American model known for her work with CoverGirlKiara Muhammed, American actress who started her career modeling for ReebokKiara Nowlin, American gymnast, World Champion power tumbler and an internationally ranked cheerleaderKiara Sasso, Brazilian actress and singerKiara Laetitia, Italian rock singer and entrepreneurKiara Young, Miss Tennessee 2015

Famous Chiaras

  • Santa Chiara/Saint Clare of Assisi, Follower of Saint Francis who left her wealthy family to found the order of nuns known as the Poor ClaresChiara Zanni, Canadian actress and comedianChiara Mastroianni, French actress and singerChiara Caselli, Italian actressChiara Rosa, Italian shot putterChiara Scholl, American tennis player

Famous Ciaras

  • Saint Ciara, Irish nun who established a monastery at Kilkeary in the 7th centuryCiara Bravo, American actressCiara Sheehy, Irish Olympic sprinter

More Baby Names

Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options: 

  • Top 1,000 Baby Girl Names in the U.S.
  • 300 Popular Baby Names Ending in A, N, and Y
  • 100 Celtic Baby Names: Meanings and Origins