Kura
A girl's name of Japanese origin with 64 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A river in Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan, flowing into the Caspian Sea.
Kura is a girl's baby name of Japanese origin meaning 'treasure house' or 'storehouse,' from the Japanese kura (蔵) — the traditional storehouses of Japanese architecture, often white-plastered with distinctive black lattice windows. The kura protected a family's most precious possessions.
In Maori, Kura means "red" or "precious" and is associated with the prized red feathers of the kaka parrot. Whether Japanese or Maori in interpretation, Kura names a daughter for something precious — a treasure worth protecting.
EtymologyShow more
Kura is built from 4 letters and two syllables — a compact structure that favors quick recognition and easy recall. Within the Japanese naming tradition, this brevity is common among names that have been worn down through centuries of use, shedding syllables along the way.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Kura creates its characteristic open, warm quality. Two-syllable names are the most common length in American naming, hitting a natural speech rhythm that works across formal and informal contexts.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Kura has 11+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1975.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 7 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 23 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 11 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 13 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 5 | — |
The Story of Kura
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1987, Kura is a Millennial-era classic. Girls named Kura are most likely born between 1977 and 1997.
How rare is Kura?
Only about 1 in every 720,000 babies born in 2024 was named Kura — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1975, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 2000s with 23 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Kura by the numbers
- Would fill 1 school bus
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(11 years, 1975–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | #16521 |
| 2011 | 7 | #14129 |
| 2008 | 5 | #19149 |
| 2005 | 6 | #15540 |
| 2002 | 5 | #16905 |
| 2000 | 7 | #12528 |
| 1997 | 5 | #14998 |
| 1993 | 6 | #12671 |
| 1987 | 7 | #9301 |
| 1984 | 6 | #9754 |
| 1975 | 5 | #9798 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kura a boy's or girl's name?
When was Kura most popular?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1975–2024