Kaya
Kaya is a girl's name of Japanese origin.
Meaning
Yew tree or resting place (Japanese); wise child (Hopi); rock or stone (Turkish).
Origin and history
Kaya is a multicultural name with roots in several traditions, representing 'yew tree' or 'resting place' in Japanese, 'wise child' in Hopi, and 'rock' in Turkish. It gained noticeable traction in the United States around the late 1990s and early 2000s. Its brief, melodic structure gives it broad contemporary appeal.
Popularity in the United States
10,314 babies in the United States have been named Kaya since 1880. It ranks #1603 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #974.
States where it is most popular
- CA (22 %)
- NY (7.7 %)
- IL (6.4 %)
- TX (5.6 %)
- FL (5.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 12 |
| 1970-1980 | 93 |
| 1980-1990 | 191 |
| 1990-2000 | 975 |
| 2000-2010 | 4,473 |
| 2010-2019 | 3,104 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,466 |
Famous people named Kaya
- Kaya Scodelario: actress
- Kaya Jones: singer
Fun facts
- Kaya evolved independently across multiple languages, giving it distinct meanings around the world.
- The Nez Perce American Girl historical character named Kaya was introduced in 2002, elevating the name's profile in the U.S.