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Help[Facts] Re: Origin and pronunciation of Kyra
in reply to a message by Perrine
My guess is that the early usage of Kyra / Kira in the Anglo-Saxon world was Russian influenced, as a feminization of Kyrill, among immigrants.
Based on Wikipedia, the first internationally notable women with this name in the anglo-saxo world were women born in the 1910s, like Grand Duchess Kira of Russia, Kyra Petrovskaya Wayne, and Kyra Vayne, who may have popularized the name in the mid-20th century.
My guess is that the rise in popularity of this name in the 1960s was above-all influenced by the popularity of similar-sounding names like Carol, Karen, Carla, Carrie, Kara, and Kerry. I wouldn't be surprised if US baby name books gave Kyra/Kira an Irish etymology (connecting it to Ciara), thus promoting the name among Irish-Americans. (For example, in the prominent Kennedy family you find names like Kerry, Kara, and Kyra).
Celebrities born in the second-half of the century helped popularise the name further, as you mention.
Conclusion: early usage in the US was Russian-influenced, later usage was inspired by Ciara and above all by similar sounding names, and eventually by celebrities.
Based on Wikipedia, the first internationally notable women with this name in the anglo-saxo world were women born in the 1910s, like Grand Duchess Kira of Russia, Kyra Petrovskaya Wayne, and Kyra Vayne, who may have popularized the name in the mid-20th century.
My guess is that the rise in popularity of this name in the 1960s was above-all influenced by the popularity of similar-sounding names like Carol, Karen, Carla, Carrie, Kara, and Kerry. I wouldn't be surprised if US baby name books gave Kyra/Kira an Irish etymology (connecting it to Ciara), thus promoting the name among Irish-Americans. (For example, in the prominent Kennedy family you find names like Kerry, Kara, and Kyra).
Celebrities born in the second-half of the century helped popularise the name further, as you mention.
Conclusion: early usage in the US was Russian-influenced, later usage was inspired by Ciara and above all by similar sounding names, and eventually by celebrities.
This message was edited 3/13/2022, 3:33 AM
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