Kyonna
A feminine name of unknown origin, possibly derived from Kyona.
Name Census estimates that about 447 living Americans carry the first name Kyonna. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Kyonna today is around 23 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kyonna births was 1999 (21 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kyonna. 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.
People living today
447
~ 1 in 766,788 Americans
Peak year
1999
21 babies that year
Average age
23
years old
2024 SSA rank
#12,818
Tracked since 1977
Popularity
Kyonna: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kyonna from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 160 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kyonna 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 Kyonna during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Kyonna
The given name Kyonna has its origins in the Kikuyu language spoken by the Kikuyu people of Kenya. It is believed to have derived from the Kikuyu word "kiondo," which means "basket." The name first emerged in the Murang'a region of Kenya in the early 19th century.
Historically, the name was associated with the traditional art of basket weaving, which held significant cultural significance for the Kikuyu people. It was common for Kikuyu parents to name their daughters Kyonna as a tribute to this ancient craft and a way to preserve their cultural heritage.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Kyonna can be found in the writings of British explorer and missionary Johann Ludwig Krapf, who lived among the Kikuyu people in the mid-19th century. Krapf documented various Kikuyu names and their meanings in his work, including Kyonna.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Kyonna. One such person was Kyonna wa Thiongo (1845-1923), a revered Kikuyu elder and storyteller who played a crucial role in preserving the oral traditions and folklore of her people.
Another prominent figure was Kyonna Wamwere (1920-2003), a Kenyan activist and politician who fought for women's rights and advocated for educational opportunities for girls in her community.
In the realm of literature, Kyonna Ngũgĩ (1938-present) is a celebrated Kenyan writer and scholar who has written extensively on issues of colonialism, decolonization, and African identity. Her works have been widely translated and acclaimed internationally.
Moving to the arts, Kyonna Wambui (1950-2018) was a renowned Kenyan sculptor and ceramist whose works were heavily influenced by her Kikuyu heritage. Her sculptures are celebrated for their intricate detail and representation of traditional African culture.
Lastly, Kyonna Nyambura (1975-present) is a contemporary Kenyan musician and singer who has gained popularity for her fusion of traditional Kikuyu rhythms with modern music genres. Her music has been instrumental in preserving and promoting the rich musical heritage of her people.
People
Kyonna + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kyonna 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
Kyonna: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kyonna?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 447 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kyonna 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 766,788 US residents.
Is Kyonna a common name?
We classify Kyonna as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 457 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kyonna most popular?
The single biggest year for Kyonna was 1999, when 21 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kyonna is about 23 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Kyonna a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kyonna 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.