Meaning & origin
Where it comes from
Keya is a variant of Kiana. Kiana has been associated with Hawaiian and Irish naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1967. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Keya through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,911
- 0 boys · 1,911 girls
- Most popular year
- 1972
- 78 babies
- 2025
- 14
- #7,689 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −46%
- Cooling
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 14 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 7,689 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 45.6% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 78 in 1972. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,850 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.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Keya, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kenya
“an innocent; from the country of Kenya”
2% boys · 98% girls
Kiva
“protected by God”
5% boys · 95% girls
Karena
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Keysha
>99% girls
Kelli
“a lively and bright-headed woman” · “a warrior”
>99% girls
Kellie
“a warrior” · “one who defends”
>99% girls
Corinna
“a spear-wielding woman”
>99% girls
Keisha
“of the spice tree”
>99% girls