Kiyah
A Persian name meaning "prosperous life" or "beautiful".
Name Census estimates that about 2,320 living Americans carry the first name Kiyah. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Kiyah today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kiyah births was 2002 (111 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kiyah. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Kiyah is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 16 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
2.3K
~ 1 in 147,739 Americans
Peak year
2002
111 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,986
Tracked since 1991
Popularity
Kiyah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kiyah from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 925 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Kiyah remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kiyah by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Kiyah during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Kiyahs live
The SSA's state-level files cover 23 states and territories. Texas, California, North Carolina recorded the most babies named Kiyah, while Wisconsin, Washington, South Carolina recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 39 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Kiyah
The name Kiyah is a unique and intriguing given name with a rich cultural history. Its origins can be traced back to the Yoruba language, spoken primarily in West Africa, particularly in Nigeria. The Yoruba people are known for their vibrant traditions and deeply rooted cultural values.
In the Yoruba language, the name Kiyah is believed to have derived from the word "kia," which means "born on a journey" or "born during travel." This suggests that the name was traditionally given to children who were born while their parents were traveling or migrating. It holds a symbolic significance, representing the idea of new beginnings and the resilience of life even in challenging circumstances.
While there are no definitive historical references to the name Kiyah in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its connection to the Yoruba culture and language is well-established. Some of the earliest recorded examples of the name can be found in Yoruba communities in Nigeria and among the Yoruba diaspora in other parts of the world.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Kiyah, each leaving their mark in various fields. Here are a few examples:
1. Kiyah Romero (born 1987) is a Spanish-American actress known for her roles in films and television series such as "The Fosters" and "Good Trouble."
2. Kiyah Robinson (born 1992) is a British singer and songwriter who gained recognition through her participation in the talent competition "The X Factor" in 2008.
3. Kiyah Lewis (born 1995) is an American track and field athlete who specializes in sprinting events. She has represented the United States in international competitions and won multiple NCAA championships while competing for the University of Florida.
4. Kiyah Wright (born 1982) is a Canadian artist and author known for her children's books that celebrate diversity and promote inclusivity.
5. Kiyah Sinclair (born 1988) is a Jamaican-American fashion designer and entrepreneur who founded her own clothing line focused on sustainable and ethical fashion practices.
These individuals, hailing from various backgrounds and cultures, have contributed to the rich tapestry of the name Kiyah, each leaving their unique imprint on its legacy.
People
Kiyah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kiyah as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kiyah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kiyah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2,320 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kiyah going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 147,739 US residents.
Is Kiyah a common name?
We classify Kiyah as "Rare". It ranks above 94.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 2,348 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kiyah most popular?
The single biggest year for Kiyah was 2002, when 111 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kiyah is about 16 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Kiyah a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kiyah in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.