Kiva

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.

Pronounced KEE-vuh.

As of October 2026, Kiva ranked #11413 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #8748 in 2005.