Given name & surname
Kaia
Kaia is a variant of Kai. A connection with the sea occurs in Hawaiian interpretations. Kai should not be applied automatically to the European name.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Kaia is a variant of Kai. A connection with the sea occurs in Hawaiian interpretations. Kai should not be applied automatically to the European name.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Kaia is a variant of Kai. The Scandinavian, North German, and Frisian name has an uncertain origin. Hawaiian use provides a separate naming context.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
Kaia is a variant of Kai. The shared background comes through Kai: For the European form, proposed connections include an Old Norse word for a hen or chicken and the Roman name Gaius. Neither explanation is certain.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1955. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kaia through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 20,967
- 58 boys · 20,909 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 1,680 babies
- 2025
- 1,623
- #193 for girls · #12,932 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +49%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 1,618 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 193 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 49.9% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 5 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (359). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 11,567 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Kaia’s family of names
In Estonian usage, Kaia has a short form in Kai. In Estonian usage, Kaia shares a linguistic root with the Finnish form KAIJA. In Estonian usage, Kaia has a related form in Catherine.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Kaia has relatives in 4 languages.
12 related names in 4 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 4
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 6
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Kaia
- Kaia KanepiEstonian tennis player (born 1985)
- Kaia GerberAmerican model and actress (born 2001)
- Kaia Wøien NicolaisenNorwegian biathleteborn 1990
- Kaia IvaEstonian politician (1964–2023)
- Kaia ParnabyAustralian softball playerborn 1990
- Kaia AruaPapua New Guinean cricketer1990–2024
- Kaia KaterCanadian banjo playerborn 1993
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kaia, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Dahlia
“from the valley; resembling the flower”
>99% girls
Nyla
“from the Nile river”
>99% girls
Gemma
“gem, jewel” · “as precious as a jewel”
>99% girls
Azalea
“of the dry earth; resembling the flower” · “one who is spared by God”
>99% girls
Hallie
“from the hall” · “woman of the sea”
>99% girls
Antonella
Antonella is a variant of Antonia. In Latin use, Antonia carries the interpretation “priceless and highly praiseworthy; a flourishing flower.”
>99% girls
Magnolia
“resembling the flowering tree”
>99% girls
Nova
“new; a bright star” · “a butterfly chaser”
5% boys · 95% girls