Kiyoshi as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Kiyoshi

What is the meaning of the name Kiyoshi ?

The baby name Kiyoshi is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced kee-YOH-shee (/ki.jo.ɕi/).

Kiyoshi is Japanese in Origin.

Kiyoshi is a Japanese given name, typically masculine, derived from the native adjective kiyoshi/kiyo meaning “pure, clear, undefiled,” long attested in classical poetry. As a name it’s written with various kanji, most commonly 清 (“pure, clean”) or 潔 (“chaste, upright”), but also 聖 (“holy, sage”), 恭 (“respectful”), or in compounds such as 清志 (“pure will”) and 清司 (“pure administrator”). The nuance depends on the chosen characters.

Used across the 20th century with particular popularity in the Shōwa period, Kiyoshi appears among artists, scholars, and athletes; bearers include filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa and mathematician Kiyoshi Ito. The name remains familiar in Japan and the diaspora, though less common for newborns today. Romanization varies: Kiyoshi is Hepburn, while Kiyosi reflects Kunrei/Nihon-shiki; the affectionate short form Kiyo is also found. Related feminine forms include Kiyoko (“pure child”). Overall, Kiyoshi conveys clarity, moral integrity, and quiet strength.