UK name, mostly girls
Kia
Of Hawaiian origin, meaning "highest point".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kia is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Kia popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 147 births.
This profile covers 1,486 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 2% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 1,503 living people in the UK are called Kia. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kia ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 147 girls were registered as Kia.
- • Kia ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #437 in 2007.
- • About 1,503 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kia as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 93.3% of Kia registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5891
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2001
147 births
Estimated living
1,503
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Kia
In England and Wales birth records, Kia has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 6.7% of registrations are for boys and 93.3% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Kia registered for boys
- Ranked #4,810 in 2016
- 3 boys registered in 2016
- Peak: 1999 (14 births)
Kia registered for girls
- Ranked #5,891 in 2024
- 3 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2001 (147 births)
Meaning
What does Kia mean?
The name Kia has its origins in the Hawaiian language and culture, dating back to the ancient Polynesian civilization. The name is derived from the Hawaiian word "ki'a," which means "watchful" or "observant." In Hawaiian mythology, Kia was also the name of a legendary figure known for her wisdom and foresight.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Kia can be found in the ancient Hawaiian chants and oral traditions passed down through generations. These chants often celebrated the virtues of watchfulness and attentiveness, which were highly valued in Hawaiian society. The name Kia was given to individuals who possessed these qualities.
In the 16th century, the Hawaiian explorer and navigator Kia Keawe embarked on voyages across the Pacific Ocean, exploring various islands and expanding the knowledge of the Polynesian people. Her legacy as a skilled navigator and explorer has been celebrated in Hawaiian folklore and contributes to the historical significance of the name.
During the 18th century, Kia Kahikina was a renowned Hawaiian chieftain known for her leadership and diplomacy. She played a crucial role in maintaining peace and unity among the various tribes and villages on the Hawaiian Islands, earning her a place in the annals of Hawaiian history.
In the realm of Hawaiian royalty, Kia Kamakau was a prominent figure in the 19th century. She was a member of the Hawaiian nobility and served as a trusted advisor to King Kamehameha III, offering valuable counsel on matters of state and cultural preservation.
Another notable figure with the name Kia was Kia Opu, a Hawaiian scholar and historian who lived in the late 19th century. She dedicated her life to documenting and preserving the rich cultural traditions, customs, and stories of the Hawaiian people, ensuring their legacy would be passed down to future generations.
These are just a few examples of the historical significance and cultural impact of the name Kia within the Hawaiian tradition. Its origins can be traced back to ancient times, and it has been borne by individuals who have made notable contributions to Hawaiian society, exploration, leadership, and the preservation of cultural heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kia over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Kia in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kia, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 147 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kia by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kia was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4812 | 12 | 3 |
| 2010s | #2604 | 176 | 10 |
| 2000s | #421 | 981 | 10 |
| 1990s | #414 | 317 | 4 |
Geography
Where Kia is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Kia. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Kia ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #437 in 2007.
Across the UK
Kia in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#437 in 2007
6 years of NRS records, 27 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Kia
-
Kia Abdullah
journalist; novelist
British novelist
1982-
Related
Names similar to Kia
- Katie 53,185
- Keira 14,411
- Katherine 11,323
- Kayleigh 10,677
- Kate 10,276
- Kelsey 7,224
- Kiera 7,218
- Kayla 6,541
- Kirsty 6,384
- Khadija 5,948
- Kimberley 5,189
- Kaitlyn 5,137
FAQ
Kia: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kia in the UK right now?
In 2024, Kia was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Kia most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 147 babies registered as Kia in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kia?
Of Hawaiian origin, meaning "highest point".
How many people are called Kia in the UK?
A total of 1,486 babies have been registered as Kia across the 27 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 27 more in Scotland.
Where is Kia most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Kia ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #437 in 2007. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.