Kiyona
Meaning of Kiyona
Kiyona, a feminine appellation of Japanese provenance, derives from the morpheme kiyo (清), connoting “pure” or “clear,” paired with the feminine suffix -na to yield a three-syllable name that evokes the crystalline serenity of unstained waters. Articulated in both Japanese and English as kee-YOH-nah (/kiːˈjoʊnə/), it possesses a fluid sonority reminiscent of Latin names such as Lucia or Helena, each of which traditionally embodies virtues—puritas or claritas—that find a quiet echo in Kiyona’s lexical roots. In the United States, its usage has remained exceptionally rare yet remarkably consistent since the late 1970s, registering between five and nine newborn bearers per year and fluctuating in popularity from a rank of 755 in 1978 to 945 by 2010. Such statistical modesty underscores an analytical narrative of cultural selectivity: parents drawn to its cross-linguistic elegance and its subtly evocative imagery—like a limpid rivulet threading through an ancient grove—tend toward names that balance unique phonetic architecture with a depth of meaning.
Pronunciation
Japanese
- Pronunced as kee-YOH-nah (/kiːˈjoʊnə/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
