A figure of speech or indirect allusion
In Arabic, Kinaya is a rhetorical term referring to metonymy or an indirect expression where a word is used to imply a related meaning. It is also sometimes associated with Swahili origins, where it can mean self-sufficiency or independence. The name is rare in the United States, offering a melodic and sophisticated choice for parents seeking a name with literary and linguistic depth.
Less common today
Kinaya isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #9,837 in 2009.
US births per 5-year period, 1990βpresent (SSA data).