Kaya - A very unique female name
Kaya at a glance
Kaya is ranked #1182 among girl baby names in 2025, with 144 births in 2025. It peaked in 2003 at #523 and first appeared on the charts in 1978.
- Rank in 2025
- #1182
- Births in 2025
- 144
- Peak year
- 2003 (#523)
- First appeared
- 1978
- Trend
- #1047 in 2020 → #1182 in 2025 (Falling)
- Popularity
- 1 in 9,052 girls
- Visitor rating
- 4.3/5 (19 recent votes)
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration · Data through 2025 · Updated 2026
With that position 1 in 9,052 baby girls were given this name - making this a very unique female name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Kaya peaked in popularity 23 years ago in 2003 on position 523.
Famous with this name
Kaya Scodelario
Seray Kaya
Hazal Kaya
How would you rate Kaya, 1-5?
Kaya is currently topping the charts in...
Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Kaya is currently topping the baby name charts in Arizona at position #716 - and is the least popular in Florida at position #1,494.Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Kaya is where you live.
Comment and discuss
Kaya origin and meaning
Multiple homonymous origins; US use is modern
Uncertain — Kaya exists independently in several languages (including Turkish 'rock' and Japanese forms), and the modern US name cannot be tied to one of them
Kaya surged in the US in the 1990s–2000s, peaking in 2003, on sound more than on any single heritage. Because genuinely different names in Turkish, Japanese and other languages share this spelling, assigning Kaya one pretty meaning would be invention. It has been falling since its peak.
Origin uncertain
Kaya is a 4 letter name with 2 syllables.
To see famous people named Kaya, pop culture references for the name Kaya and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.Similar to Kaya
We've found the following names that sound similar to Kaya, sorted by popularity.
Kay / Kasey / Keisha / Kaia / Kacie / Kaye / Kacey / Kaci / Kaiya / Kai /Name statistics
Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better
understanding of how popular or unique this name is.
With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually
differ a lot from state to state.
Chart position per year (visualized)
Chart position per state (visualized)
Chart position per year (table view)
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 1182 |
| 2024 | 961 |
| 2023 | 1039 |
| 2022 | 1023 |
| 2021 | 1017 |
| 2020 | 1047 |
| 2019 | 966 |
| 2018 | 1034 |
| 2017 | 956 |
| 2016 | 965 |
| 2015 | 884 |
| 2014 | 1020 |
| 2013 | 807 |
| 2012 | 811 |
| 2011 | 745 |
| 2010 | 793 |
| 2009 | 710 |
| 2008 | 659 |
| 2007 | 688 |
| 2006 | 645 |
| 2005 | 639 |
| 2004 | 546 |
| 2003 | 523 |
| 2002 | 552 |
| 2001 | 632 |
| 2000 | 756 |
| 1999 | 1072 |
| 1998 | 1190 |
| 1997 | 1387 |
| 1996 | 1597 |
| 1995 | 1938 |
| 1994 | 2225 |
| 1993 | 2289 |
| 1992 | 2603 |
| 1991 | 2639 |
| 1990 | 3335 |
| 1989 | 4254 |
| 1988 | 3084 |
| 1987 | 3092 |
| 1978 | 3137 |
Chart position per state (table view)
| State | Rank |
|---|---|
| Arizona | 716 |
| New Jersey | 745 |
| Utah | 762 |
| Washington | 773 |
| Illinois | 830 |
| California | 848 |
| Michigan | 908 |
| Colorado | 982 |
| New York | 1120 |
| Pennsylvania | 1172 |
| Virginia | 1283 |
| Texas | 1335 |
| Florida | 1494 |
Even more about Kaya
These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.
Is Kaya a common or unique name?
By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique female name.What is the number of syllables for the name Kaya?
2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.Pronunciation
KY-ah · /ˈkaɪə/
Around the world
No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.
Spellings and nicknames
- Kaia — The now more popular spelling, a separate established name with its own Scandinavian associations
- Kayah — H-elaborated respelling
Famous bearers
- Kaya Scodelario — English actress, known for Skins and the Pirates of the Caribbean films (b. 1992) Contemporary
Style
Modern coinage
Why parents choose it
Kaya is picked for its light, two-syllable sound; its many possible roots mean families can attach their own significance.
Worth knowing
- The Kaia spelling has overtaken Kaya, so expect mix-ups and respellings
