Kiauna is of African-American origin, derived from Ki'ao, meaning 'small and beautiful'. It gained popularity in the United States during the late 20th century.
The name Kiauna saw a significant rise in popularity between 1979 and 2002, with over 20 births per year from 1990 onwards. The peak occurred in 2002 with 30 births. After that, the number of annual births decreased steadily, reaching as low as 5 in 2015.