UK girl's name
Kiona
A feminine name of Native American origin relating to brown clay or rust.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kiona is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Kiona popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5591, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 6 births.
This profile covers 51 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 1997 to 2019. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 51 living people in the UK are called Kiona. 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 2020 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kiona ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 6 girls were registered as Kiona.
- • About 51 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kiona as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5591
2019
Births in 2019
3
Latest year
Peak year
2003
6 births
Estimated living
51
2026
Meaning
What does Kiona mean?
The name Kiona has its origins in the Nez Perce language, spoken by the Nez Perce Native American tribe in the northwestern United States. The name is derived from the Nez Perce word "kiona," which means "brown" or "chestnut-colored." This suggests that the name was initially used to describe someone with a particular hair or skin tone.
In the Nez Perce culture, names were traditionally given to children based on their physical characteristics or events surrounding their birth. The name Kiona would have been bestowed upon a child with a brown or chestnut complexion or hair color. The Nez Perce tribe has a rich oral tradition, and it's possible that the name appeared in their stories and legends.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kiona dates back to the late 19th century. Kiona Ozawineh, a Nez Perce woman born around 1870, was a prominent figure in her tribe and played a significant role in preserving their cultural traditions and language.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Kiona. Kiona Liggett (1899-1981) was an American author and poet who wrote extensively about Native American life and culture. Kiona Ferrell (born 1946) is a renowned American artist known for her intricate and colorful paintings inspired by her Native American heritage.
Kiona Brinson (born 1985) is a former professional basketball player who played in the WNBA for teams like the New York Liberty and the Los Angeles Sparks. Kiona Makeka (born 1991) is a New Zealand actress and model who has appeared in various television shows and films.
Another notable figure named Kiona was Kiona Kokalani (1926-2008), a Hawaiian activist and community leader who dedicated her life to preserving and promoting Native Hawaiian culture and traditions. She played a vital role in the Hawaiian renaissance movement of the late 20th century.
While the name Kiona has Native American roots, it has gained popularity across various cultures and communities, particularly in the United States. Its unique sound and meaning have contributed to its enduring appeal as a given name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kiona over time
The chart below shows babies named Kiona registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kiona, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kiona by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kiona 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5688 | 6 | 2 |
| 2000s | #3806 | 39 | 9 |
| 1990s | #3836 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Kiona
- 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
Kiona: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kiona in the UK right now?
In 2019, Kiona was ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Kiona most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 6 babies registered as Kiona in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kiona?
A feminine name of Native American origin relating to brown clay or rust.
How many people are called Kiona in the UK?
A total of 51 babies have been registered as Kiona across the 13 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
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.