Names › Girls' names › K › Kaia
Kaia
Meaning: diminutive of Katarina · Origin: Scandinavian / Finnish · Gender: usually a girl's name
Origin & history
Kaia is a diminutive of Katarina (Scandinavian) or Katariina (Finnish and Estonian), forms of Katherine.
Popularity of Kaia in the US, 1880–2025
2025: 1,618 US baby girls named Kaia — #193 for girls · Peak: 1,680 in 2024 · 1950: fewer than 5 · 2000: 242 · 2020: 1,076
Source: US Social Security Administration (SSA) national baby-name data, 1880–2025 (names.zip). Counts are babies of that gender given exactly this spelling each year; SSA leaves out a name in any year with fewer than 5 births.
How to pronounce Kaia
KYE-uh · IPA /ˈkaɪə/ (common American English pronunciation)
Language of origin
Scandinavian / Greek-associated modern form; origins varied
How the meaning and use of Kaia developed
Kaia is used in Scandinavia as a form related to Katherine and elsewhere as a modern variant of Gaia or Kaia; traditions differ.
Related names from the same root
Kaja · Kaya · Gaia
Sibling names that go well with Kaia
Sister: Alaia · Amaya
Brother: Kairo · Tate
Our editorial suggestions — similar era, style and length — chosen from names with full pages on this site.
Nicknames
Kai
Variants & related names
Kaja
Kaia name art
A free preview of a printable “Kaia” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.
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FAQ
What does the name Kaia mean?
Kaia means “diminutive of Katarina”. It comes from Scandinavian / Finnish.
How do you pronounce Kaia?
Kaia is usually pronounced KYE-uh (/ˈkaɪə/).
Is Kaia a popular name?
In 2025, Kaia ranked #193 among girls' names in the United States, given to 1,618 baby girls, according to US Social Security Administration data. Its peak year was 2024 (1,680 babies).
What are nicknames for Kaia?
Kai.
What are other forms of Kaia?
Kaja.
What are good sibling names for Kaia?
Sister: Alaia, Amaya. Brother: Kairo, Tate.
Similar names
Mia · Kinsley · Kennedy · Katherine · Kylie · Kate
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Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.