Kiran
From Sanskrit किरण (kiraṇa, “ray of light”).
Every Kiran since 1966 — 5,041 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Kiran
Kiran is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #1,272 in 2025 with 155 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1966, 5,041 American babies have been named Kiran — about 63% boys and 37% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2008, when 198 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2000s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Kiran stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Kiran year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | #6,697 | 155 | #1,272 |
| 2024 | 10 | #9,927 | 142 | #1,349 |
| 2023 | 11 | #9,321 | 109 | #1,601 |
| 2022 | 10 | #10,076 | 108 | #1,617 |
| 2021 | 12 | #8,742 | 118 | #1,509 |
| 2020 | 12 | #8,694 | 100 | #1,616 |
| 2019 | 17 | #6,891 | 93 | #1,706 |
| 2018 | 26 | #5,084 | 98 | #1,653 |
| 2017 | 24 | #5,452 | 99 | #1,614 |
| 2016 | 33 | #4,395 | 105 | #1,569 |
| 2015 | 32 | #4,451 | 124 | #1,392 |
| 2014 | 38 | #3,965 | 97 | #1,614 |
| 2013 | 37 | #4,047 | 114 | #1,452 |
| 2012 | 42 | #3,758 | 119 | #1,403 |
| 2011 | 44 | #3,579 | 102 | #1,555 |
| 2010 | 39 | #3,921 | 102 | #1,561 |
| 2009 | 60 | #2,913 | 116 | #1,449 |
| 2008 | 79 | #2,428 | 119 | #1,419 |
| 2007 | 76 | #2,471 | 88 | #1,715 |
| 2006 | 73 | #2,526 | 90 | #1,612 |
| 2005 | 71 | #2,468 | 87 | #1,591 |
| 2004 | 67 | #2,516 | 87 | #1,538 |
| 2003 | 64 | #2,540 | 81 | #1,574 |
| 2002 | 77 | #2,167 | 71 | #1,672 |
| 2001 | 58 | #2,617 | 53 | #2,019 |
| 2000 | 57 | #2,618 | 52 | #1,984 |
| 1995 | 43 | #2,820 | 22 | #3,151 |
| 1990 | 27 | #3,850 | 11 | #4,858 |
| 1985 | 19 | #4,211 | 13 | #3,522 |
| 1980 | 22 | #3,673 | 17 | #2,795 |
| 1975 | 23 | #3,101 | 10 | #3,556 |
| 1970 | 9 | #5,597 | 8 | #3,687 |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Kiran
- Kiran Bedi Politician · b. 1949
- Kiran Rao Film director · b. 1973
- Kiran Desai Writer · b. 1971
- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Businessperson · b. 1953
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kiran mean?
From Sanskrit किरण (kiraṇa, “ray of light”).
How popular is the name Kiran in 2025?
Kiran ranked #1,272 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 155 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Kiran?
5,041 babies have been named Kiran in the United States since 1966, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Kiran most popular?
Kiran peaked in 2008, when 198 newborns received the name.
Is Kiran a boy or girl name?
Kiran is used for both: about 37% of babies named Kiran have been girls and 63% boys.
Is the name Kiran rising or falling?
Kiran is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Kiran?
Well-known people named Kiran include Kiran Bedi (politician), Kiran Rao (film director), Kiran Desai (writer).