Given name & surname
Kaya
“filled with happiness; rejoicing”
Kaya is a variant of Kay. One Welsh interpretation is “filled with happiness; rejoicing.” Its derivation is not certain.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Kaya is a variant of Kay. One Welsh interpretation is “filled with happiness; rejoicing.” Its derivation is not certain.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Kaya is a variant of Kay. A possible origin is Latin, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1968. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kaya through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 10,976
- 662 boys · 10,314 girls
- Most popular year
- 2004
- 561 babies
- 2025
- 221
- #1,133 for girls · #6,001 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −6%
- Steady
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 5% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 206 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,133 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 7.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 528 in 2004. It also appeared in 15 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (35). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 9,062 as a first name in 2020; 1,739 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.
Kaya’s family of names
Kaya has a related form in Kay. In Japanese usage, Kaya is a Roman-alphabet rendering of 香耶. In German usage, Kaya as a surname has a related form in Kayaci.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Kaya has relatives in 4 languages.
4 related names in 4 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 2
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 5
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Kaya
- Kaya ScodelarioBritish actressborn 1992
- KayaJapanese visual kei musicianborn 1979
- Kaya PekerTurkish basketball player (born 1980)
- Kaya JonesAmerican pop singer, glamour model and actressborn 1984
- Kaya OkunoJapanese seiyūborn 1991
- Kaya ErdemTurkish politician and economistborn 1928
- Kaya TurskiCanadian freestyle skierborn 1988
- Kaya Chakrabortty2024 Miss Universe Japan winnerborn 2001
- Okay KayaNorwegian-American musician and actressborn 1990
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kaya, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kaiya
“a forgiving woman”
>99% girls
Keira
“little dark-haired one” · “having dark features; the little dark one”
>99% girls
Keilah
“a lively and bright-headed woman”
>99% girls
Cadence
“rhythmic and melodious; a musical woman” · “rhythmic and melodious; a musical man”
16% boys · 84% girls
Kayleigh
Kayleigh is a feminine given name.
>99% girls
Kaydence
“rhythmic and melodious; a musical woman” · “rhythmic and melodious; a musical man”
11% boys · 89% girls
Kylee
“from the narrow channel”
1% boys · 99% girls
Shreya
“a lucky woman”
>99% girls