Kiva

Hebrew

"to protect, shelter"

Kiva Origin and Meaning

The name Kiva is a boy's name.

Kiva is a masculine name with multiple cultural origins and meanings. In Hopi Native American culture, it refers to a sacred underground chamber used for religious ceremonies, representing spirituality and community. In Hebrew, Kiva (or Akiva) relates to the name of a revered rabbi and scholar, meaning 'to protect' or 'to shelter.' The name also appears in other cultures: in Finnish it means 'nice' or 'good,' while in Swahili it can mean 'agreement.' Kiva's brevity and strong sound make it appealing as a modern boy's name, though it's still relatively uncommon. The nonprofit microlending organization Kiva has also brought some recognition to this name in recent years.

The name Kiva in Pop Culture

• Kiva sacred room used by the Pueblo people
• Kiva microfinance organization