Surname Kiran - Meaning and Origin

Kiran: What does the surname Kiran mean?

Kiran is a name of Sanskrit origin with a variety of meanings across several cultures. In India, it can mean "ray of light," or "beam of light," and is often given to newborns to represent the hope of a bright future. The meaning of Kiran is also found in Celtic and Old Norse, where it means “dark” or “black,” and is sometimes associated with a deity or God. The Hindi version of the name, Kiran, is used to refer to the Lord Shiva, while the Tamil version of the name, Kiranam, is associated with the Goddess Parvati.

Kiran is an incredibly popular name in various parts of the world, including India, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. It has been adapted to a range of spellings, including Kiran,Keeran,Keran, and Kyran. In the U.S., the name is often given to children of South Asian descent as an homage to their culture and heritage.

Although derived from Sanskrit, Kiran has developed its own identity and is now commonly associated with calmness, wisdom, intuition, and serenity. When used as a given name or surname, Kiran reflects the idea of hope and is a reminder of the blessings of living in the presence of light. Parents who give their children the name Kiran are often saying that they want them to grow up with the hope of a life full of sunshine and joy.

Kiran: Where does the name Kiran come from?

The last name Kiran is widely present in India and other parts of southern Asia. It is derived from the Sanskrit term ‘Kiran’ which can be interpreted to mean beam of light, ray of sunshine, or a streak of light. It is a very popular name in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain communities.

India is home to the majority of people with the last name Kiran today. It is most prevalent in southern states such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. The Brahmin communities have the name as part of their identity and it is very common among the upper classes.

The last name has also spread to Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, mostly because of migration in the last two centuries. This is especially prevalent among some ethnic groups such as Muslims and Hindus. It is also very popular in parts of the Middle East and North Africa, where people with Indian heritage have settled in recent years.

In the last few decades, people with the last name Kiran have emigrated from their homeland and made their mark in places such as the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, largely due to economic and educational opportunities. These countries have also become the new homes to people whose last name is Kiran, making it increasingly common across the globe.

Variations of the surname Kiran

The surname Kiran has multiple variants, spellings and surnames that have the same origin. The origin of the name lies in India with the first recorded use of the name being from the early 18th century. The variants, spellings and surnames related to the origin of this name include Kirana, Kirani, Keeran, Keran, Kiron, Kyron, Kyrone and Kyronne.

Kirana is a variant spelling of the name that can also be found as Kirani. This name can be found particularly in India and has roots in Indian culture where it is said to be derived from the Sanskrit word for ray of light.

Keeran and Keran are other spellings for the same name that have the same origin. The literal meaning of this surname is believed to be ‘ray of light’ or ‘radiance’. It is also likely to have an unstable derivation, deriving from multiple cultures and roots.

Kiron, Kyron, Kyrone and Kyronne are surnames which have the same origin as Kiran. This name is also derived from Old Irish, referring to a young man, and Welsh, referencing a leader or chieftain. These spellings are very uncommon, however, they are a derivative of the same surnames.

Therefore, it can be seen that the surname Kiran has multiple variants, spellings and surnames related to its origin. This range of spellings and variations on this surname gives a unique insight into its origins and history.

Famous people with the name Kiran

• Kiran Bedi: the first woman to join the Indian Police Service in 1972, and served as the Director General of the Tihar Central Jail in Delhi, India’s largest prison.
• Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw: an Indian entrepreneur who is the chairperson and managing director of Biocon, a biopharmaceutical company based in Bangalore, India.
• Kiran Desai: an Indian novelist who won the Man Booker Prize in 2006 for her novel, The Inheritance of Loss.
• Kiran Rao: an Indian film director who is the wife of actor Aamir Khan.
• Kiran Raj: an Indian actor who appeared in the 2015 film Katti Batti, and in the television series 24.
• Kiran Seth: an Indian singer and songwriter who has written and composed songs for many Bollywood films.
• Kiran Khalap: a leading Indian public relations consultant who is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Chlorophyll Brand and Communications Consultancy.
• Kiran Chetry: an American television journalist who was the anchor of CNN's morning show, American Morning.
• Kiran Segal: an Indian actress who appeared in the 2003 film, Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon.
• Kiran More: an Indian cricketer who represented India in 62 international matches between 1984 and 1993.

Other surnames

KirawanKirayKiraz