Kiia is a Finnish female given name, most commonly understood as a modern form of Kia. The name Kia itself originated as a Swedish diminutive of Kristina, which in turn is a form of Christina, the Latin feminine form of Christian. The root name Christina derives from Christiana, a feminine adaptation of the Latin Christianus, meaning "follower of Christ." This name was borne by an early Christian saint, often identified with Saint Christina of Bolsena, who according to legend was martyred by her pagan father for her faith. Notably, Christina was also the name of Queen Christina of Sweden (1626–1689), a 17th-century monarch and patron of the arts who famously abdicated her throne to convert to Roman Catholicism. In modern times, the name Christina gained widespread popularity, partly due to famous bearers such as actress Christina Ricci and singer Christina Aguilera, both born in 1980. While the English-speaking world often preferred the variant Christine for much of the 20th century, the Scandinavian and Finnish forms like Kristina and Kiia have remained distinct and popular in their regions. Kiia, recognized by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency of Finland, ranked as the 248th most common female given name in Finland as of August 2025, held by roughly 2,200 women and appearing as a middle name for additional 438 individuals. A closely related name includes Kristina (used in Swedish, Bulgarian variants like Hristina, and many other languages). For instance, Kristiyana is a Bulgarian form early linked to Christian traditions, while Cristina is the Spanish variant. Diminutive forms like Tina (used, e.g., in Swedish) further demonstrate the name's adaptability across languages. Meaning: "follower of Christ" (ultimately from Christiana) Origin: Finnish form of Kia (Swedish diminutive of Kristina) Type: Female given name Usage Regions: Finland, with Swedish roots Notable Principle Evolution: Christiana → Christina → Kristina → Kia → Kiia