Kaia
How to say it: KY-uh · /ˈkaɪə/
Scandinavian short form of Katarina (Greek: pure); also a Hawaiian word meaning the sea.
Kaia was the 138th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 1,618 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up about 44% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #101 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #138 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 1,618 |
| Share of births | 1 in 1,372 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | +44% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #101 |
| In France, 2025 | #894 among girls’ names, 15 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Climbing now, Kaia is enjoying its best showing in the 2020s. At its peak today, it is expected to rise.
What goes with it
Crisp and gentle with an airy close, pronounced KY uh, it matches Ayla and Malia.
Middle names that flow with Kaia →
Nicknames
- Kai
Honouring a Kaia in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Kaia is about 1 in 58.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Norwegian, Swedish.
In France: #894 for girls in 2025.
England and Wales: #267. Ireland: #132.
Famous people named Kaia
- Kaia Kanepi (born 1985)Estonian tennis player
- Kaia Gerber (born 2001)American model and actress
- Kaia Wøien Nicolaisen (born 1990)Norwegian biathlete
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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