Kaya
Kaya was the 1133rd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 206 babies. Its best year was 2003, when it ranked 540th; the most babies were born in 2004 (528). Over the last ten years it has moved down 273 places. More babies were named Kaya in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Kaia) Origin uncertain · Estonian, Norwegian, Hawaiian
- Rank in 2025
- #1,133 girls, down 77 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 206girls
- Girls and boys
- 94% girls, 6% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2004528 babies
- Total since 1880
- 10,976babies recorded
What does the name Kaya mean?
Kaya is a spelling of Kaia, pronounced the same way, so it shares Kaia's meaning and origin.
Kaia has more than one source. Wiktionary records it as an Estonian girl's name, a variant of Katariina (Katherine), and Wikipedia describes it as Estonian and Norwegian. Wikipedia also notes its use as a feminine of Kai, which in Hawaiian means 'sea'. In the US both associations are common, and parents may also see it as a form of Kaya or Kaja.
Katariina (Estonian, “Katherine”)kai (Hawaiian, “sea”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Scandinavian/Estonian pet form of Katherine, or a feminine of Kai; both are documented.
Related names: Kaja, Kai, Kaya, Katherine.
See also: Scandinavian names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Kaia', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Kaia (name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wiktionary, entry 'kai', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Kaya popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,133 | #6,001 | 206 | 15 |
| 2020 | #1,056 | #6,470 | 236 | 13 |
| 2010 | #767 | #4,604 | 357 | 21 |
| 2000 | #758 | #5,189 | 301 | 14 |
| 1990 | #2,980 | — | 38 | — |
| 1980 | #8,567 | — | 7 | — |
| 1970 | #7,478 | — | 6 | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Kaya, counting every spelling?
Kaya is a spelling of Kaia, a name family that ranked #178 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,133 for Kaya on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,962 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kaia | 1,618 | #193 | 7,550 |
| Kaya | 206 | #1,133 | 1,230 |
| Caia | 64 | #2,696 | 388 |
| Kaiah | 52 | #3,119 | 299 |
| Kayah | 22 | #5,639 | 77 |
| Caya | — | — | 29 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Kaya?
206 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Kaya (0.06 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Kaya born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 41 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Kaya.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Kaya?
About 10,200 people born in the US named Kaya are alive today, with a median age of 18; half are between 11 and 23. That makes Kaya mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Kaya by state
How common Kaya was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Illinois (2.0×), California (1.9×), Washington (1.8×), Arizona (1.7×), Virginia (1.6×). In 24 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Kaya: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Kaya, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Kaya
What does Kaya mean?
The origin of Kaia is uncertain: Scandinavian/Estonian pet form of Katherine, or a feminine of Kai; both are documented.
How popular is the name Kaya?
Kaya was the 1133rd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 206 babies. Its best year was 2003, when it ranked 540th; the most babies were born in 2004 (528). Over the last ten years it has moved down 273 places. More babies were named Kaya in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Kaya a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 94% girls, 6% boys given the name Kaya in the US.
Where is Kaya most popular?
In 2021–2025, Kaya was most common in Hawaii (0.96 per 1,000 girls), followed by Illinois and California.