Kiyoshi is a unisex given name of Japanese origin, derived from the Sino-Japanese compound 'kiyo' (清) meaning "pure" or "clean", and 'shi' (子) meaning "child". It is often used as both a male and female given name in Japan, although it has been more commonly bestowed upon males historically. The name Kiyoshi has been popular among parents in Japan since the early 20th century, with peaks in usage during the 1930s and again in the late 1970s to early 1980s. In recent years, it has experienced a resurgence in popularity, particularly for female infants. Outside of Japan, Kiyoshi is sometimes used as an international given name, with notable bearers including Japanese-American actor Kiyoshi Kuromiya and Japanese-Brazilian footballer Kiyoshipegoretti.com
The name Kiyoshi experienced notable gaps and recent resurgence in popularity, with no births reported between 1990-1996 and then a sudden recurrence of five births each in 1996 and 2023.