Kiyo
Meaningoften pure · Japanese
Kiyo is a Japanese girl name often meaning “pure”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- GenerationKiyo peaked in 1914, which makes it a Greatest Generation name, think great-grandparents.
- HistoryKiyo first shows up in US birth records in 1914, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 111 years since.
US births per million girls, 1914–2025
Similar names
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Kiyo
Kiyo is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “often pure”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It was most fashionable in the 1910s, which gives it a vintage, grandparent-chic charm. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Japanese names
Other spellings of Kiyo
More Japanese girl names
- Girl name: Naomi · pleasantness
- Girl name: Noa · movement
- Girl name: Reina · queen
- Girl name: Aya · sign, verse
- Girl name: Hana · one; flower in Japanese
- Girl name: Kiyomi · often pure beauty
- Girl name: Yuna · often gentle
- Unisex name: Akira · bright, clear
Questions about the name Kiyo
What does the name Kiyo mean?
Kiyo means “often pure” and comes from Japanese. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Catalina (“possibly pure”), Katherine (“possibly pure”), Catherine (“possibly pure”) and Katalina (“pure”).
What is the origin of the name Kiyo?
Kiyo is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Kiyo a boy or girl name?
Kiyo is a girl name, though a few boys are given it too each year.
How popular is the name Kiyo?
Kiyo is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2024. It peaked at #2,265 in 1914, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Kiyo?
If you like Kiyo, you might also like Kyo, Catalina, Katherine, Catherine and Katalina. Kyo is another spelling of the same name.
What should I know before naming my baby Kiyo?
Kiyo is a Japanese girl name often meaning “pure”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.