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Kiera

Girl name · 977 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Kiera: 977 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 80 births in 2005.

The name Kiera is an Anglicised form of the Irish name Ciara, which derives from the Gaelic word *ciar*, meaning "dark" or "black-haired", and ultimately shares roots with the Scottish name Ciara. It gained prominence largely through the fame of Saint Ciara, a seventh-century Irish abbess credited with founding a monastery in County Tipperary. Among modern bearers, the name is strongly associated with Scottish actress Kiera Knightley, known for her roles in *Pirates of the Caribbean* and *Pride & Prejudice*, though she was born in England. While no major places are named directly after a Kiera, the root element "ciar" appears in Irish place names like Ciarraí (County Kerry). A notable variant is the Scottish spelling "Kira", which is also recorded in Scotland from the 1970s onwards.