Kaya
How to say it: KYE-uh · /ˈkaɪə/
Means 'rock/cliff' in Turkish; 'elder sister' or 'wise child' in Hopi; also used in Japanese and African cultures.
Kaya was the 138th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 206 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 2000s, 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 | 206 |
| Share of births | 1 in 1,372 |
| Peak decade | 2000s |
| 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
Kaya grew almost entirely in recent decades and peaked in the 2000s. It stays close to that height with more growth ahead.
What goes with it
Crisp yet gentle, Kaya moves in two syllables. Nala aligns with it in style.
Nicknames
- Kay
Honouring a Kaya in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Kaya is about 1 in 58.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Dutch, English, French, German, Japanese, Turkish.
In France: #894 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Kaya
- Kaya Scodelario (born 1992)British actress
- Kaya Jones (born 1984)American pop singer, glamour model and actress
- Kaya Okuno (born 1991)Japanese seiyū
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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