The name Kira is of Russian origin and means "sun" or "radiant light". It is derived from the Greek word "kyrios", which translates to "lord" or "master". The name has been used as a female given name since the 19th century, but it became particularly popular in the United States during the late 20th century. Kira is also a popular name in Japan, where it is often spelled with the kanji characters for "light" and "to shine". In some cases, the name may also be associated with the character Kira from the anime and manga series "Naruto", although this is not its original or primary meaning. Overall, the name Kira has a strong and powerful connotation due to its association with light and radiance.
The name Kira experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the years. It started with a modest five births each in 1938 and 1948, then jumped to double digits by 1956. The peak was reached between 1997 and 2005, with over a thousand births per year during this period. However, Kira's popularity has been declining since around 2006, with less than nine hundred births recorded each year from 2011 onwards. As of 2023, it appears that the name is still popular but not as widely chosen as it once was.