Holding steady, #10,695 for boys today.
Popularity of Kiowa since 1972
Babies named Kiowa per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 | 8 |
| 1980s | 5 | 13 |
| 1990s | 11 | 73 |
| 2000s | 38 | 42 |
| 2010s | 16 | 61 |
| 2020s | 0 | 37 |
Meaning & origin
Kiowa is a rare given name in the United States, first recorded in 1972. Its popularity peaked in 1995, when it was most frequently used. As of 2025, it ranks 10,695 and occurs in about 1 in every 284,679 births, indicating its continued rarity. The trajectory has been stable, with little fluctuation in recent years. Though no single state shows a strong concentration, the name has been used by families across the country, often chosen to honor Native American heritage or for its distinctive sound.
Kiowa is a name borrowed directly from the Kiowa people, a Native American tribe originally from the Great Plains. The etymology of the tribal name is debated; it may stem from a term meaning 'spider' or 'snake' in the Kiowa language, or from a Comanche word meaning 'pretty bird'. The name began to be used as a given name in the United States in the early 1970s, likely reflecting broader interest in Native American culture.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kye, Kai
Sibling names for Kiowa
Names that share Kiowa's style, for a brother or sister.
