Given name & surname
Kaiser
“an imperial ruler”
Kaiser is used as a given name and a surname. One German interpretation is “an imperial ruler.”
Original GermanKayser
Meaning & origin
What it means
One German interpretation is “an imperial ruler.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is German.
How it developed
In English usage, Kaiser as a surname developed from Caesar.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1915. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kaiser through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,955
- 3,921 boys · 34 girls
- Most popular year
- 2022
- 350 babies
- 2025
- 296
- #836 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +28%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 296 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 836 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 28.8% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (33). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,044 as a first name in 2020; 32,286 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Kaiser’s family of names
In English usage, Kaiser as a surname developed from the Latin form Caesar. Kaiser has a related form in Kyzer. Kaiser has a related form in Kyser.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Kaiser has relatives in 7 languages. Lines run from its German roots to each of them.
Nicknames & forms 15
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 7
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
Similar names
If you love Kaiser, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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“a brave and bold ruler; a bold advisor”
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“source of life; small oak” · “axe”
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Kahlo is a surname from German.
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“olive tree”
>99% boys
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Stellan is a masculine given name. It is used in Swedish.
98% boys · 2% girls
Kaeser
“maker or seller of cheese”
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