Kiat

Kiat is a masculine given name commonly found in Thailand and among Thai communities abroad. It is often rendered in Latin script in several spellings, including Kiet, Kiatt, and Kitt, reflecting variations in how Thai sounds are transliterated. Because Thai names are derived from different scripts, the meaning of Kiat depends on the specific Thai characters used, and there is no single universal meaning associated with the name.

In usage, Kiat functions primarily as a first name rather than a surname. Like many Thai names, it may appear alone or as part of a longer compound name, and it is used across different regions of Thailand. The name’s popularity has persisted in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, and it is also found among Thai diaspora communities.

Variants and related spellings commonly seen in informal writing include Kiet and Kiatt, which are often used interchangeably depending on personal preference or family tradition. Some individuals may choose alternative spellings to better reflect pronunciation or to align with personal or official records.

From an onomastic perspective, Kiat illustrates how Thai given names can be short, flexible in spelling, and subject to multiple romanization systems. Its presence in public records is primarily as a given name, with it being considerably rarer as a surname.